I chose to link to Isabella’s post because I admire her decision to stop before reaching the end. I wouldn’t call it quitting, as that carries a negative connotation. Instead, I respect her for recognizing that the task was a waste of her time and consciously choosing to use her time more productively.
Isabella mentions that she felt manipulated into making mistakes, and while this was a harmless exercise, it highlights a larger issue. People are often tricked—not just into wasting time and feeling frustrated—but also into wasting or losing money.
Reading Isabella’s response, I realized that I shared many of the same thoughts and feelings. I also appreciate how she compared this task to an escape room—because, in many ways, that’s exactly what it felt like. But navigating the web shouldn’t feel like solving a puzzle. This raises an important question: Who gets to decide what an intuitive interface looks like and why is it considered intuitive?
Additionally, after experiencing this task and exploring the Deceptive Patterns website, I wonder—can these tactics be regulated? And if so, who should be responsible for protecting users from them?
References:
Brignull, H., Leiser, M., Santos, C., & Doshi, K. (2023, April 25). Deceptive patterns – user interfaces designed to trick you. Deceptive Design. https://www.deceptive.design/