🤓 Govt's Plan to Stop E-Commerce from Looting You!
Online platforms have been tempting you to buy all the things you don't need! And now, the government is coming after them! How?
Have you ever felt like your shopping cart has a mind of its own?
Picture this: You're casually browsing for shoes, and as you're about to check out, bam!
There's an extra item in your cart.
It's like adding an extra scoop of ice cream when you only asked for one, and then charging for it!
Well, well.
Welcome to the world of dark patterns – the digital salesperson who won't take 'no' for an answer.
And this dark pattern is called ‘basket sneaking’, where these platforms sneak in products in your basket, hoping that you won't notice!
Dark Patterns: Under the Sneaky
Dark patterns are like mental traps cleverly woven into websites. And most of us have encountered them without realising it!
They're designed to nudge you into making decisions that aren't in your best interest (UI/UX experts, we're looking at you!).
They're sneaky, they're subtle.
And before you know it, you've signed up for a newsletter you never wanted or bought a product you didn't need!
Think of those "Only 2 left at this price!" tags creating a false sense of urgency.
Or those countdown timers that create a sense of urgency, like a doomsday clock for shopping?
They make you rush your decision, like someone constantly looking over your shoulder saying, “Hurry up, or you'll miss out!”
This is a dark pattern called ‘false urgency’.
Have you ever tried unsubscribing to a product or service?
Well, that's a hella complicated maze.
The entry is as easy as ordering a pizza, with every step carefully laid out for you.
But hey. You want an out?
The exit is deep into a corner that will take you ages to find. Figure it out, you're on your own.
Dark pattern alert! This one is called the ‘subscription trap’.
Worse, the ‘forced action’ dark pattern:
When you're asked (read: forced) to share personal information or sign up for an unrelated service to buy the product you actually want to buy!
Well, this is just the tip of the iceberg.
The trap goes as deep as you can imagine.
What companies might proudly refer to as ‘smart marketing nudges’ or ‘witty copywriting’ are actually deadly dark patterns.
Basically, any and all practices (using UI/UX interactions) that are designed to mislead or trick users to do something they originally did not intend to do, is termed as a ‘dark pattern’.
The Indian government has identified 13 such dark patterns that e-commerce platforms use!
And it just said 'No more!' to these shady practices.
Listen Up, Online Platforms!
In a bold move, the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) of India has issued guidelines to ban these sneaky practices.
You can read all the guidelines here.
These guidelines will ensure clarity for all stakeholders - buyers, sellers, marketplaces and regulators - as to what is acceptable and what is not.
These guidelines will help create a more transparent e-commerce ecosystem in India.
Sneaky tricks of companies will no longer work and innocent customers will no longer be fooled.
Now, if companies cross the line, they're not just getting a slap on the wrist. We're talking hefty fines up to Rs 20 lakh or imprisonment, or both.
For false advertising harmful to consumers, the penalties jump to two years in jail and a fine up to Rs 10 lakh.
The government is really saying, 'Play fair, or pay up!
And, well.
India is not the first country to take this bold step.
The digital world is now seeing a global trend towards prioritizing users’ consent in data protection laws.
Various jurisdictions, including the US and the EU, have legislated against dark patterns to protect privacy and consumer rights.
For example, the California Consumer Privacy Rights Act, 2020 and the California Consumer Privacy Act, 2018 in the US recognize dark patterns and invalidate consent obtained through them.
A Pinch for the Ecommerce Industry?
The e-commerce market in India is valued at $92.95 billion in 2023, and is expected to balloon to a whopping $246.10 billion by 2028!
That's a rapid CAGR of 21.50%.
This growth trajectory is like a rocket headed straight to the moon, showing just how integral e-commerce has become to India's economy and the daily lives of people.
While this move is set to send ripples across all companies in this space, how will it affect the biggies like Amazon, Flipkart, etc?
Well, we don't know yet.
What we know is that this will require most players to go back to their drawing boards and rethink their growth strategies.
And believe it or not, the guidelines are based on recommendations by representatives from Google, Amazon, Flipkart, RIL, Swiggy, Zomato, Ola, Tata CLiQ, Facebook, Meta, Shiprocket and Go-MMT.
Looks like they have finally realised the potential harms of their nudges, after all.
As we dive deeper into the digital age, let's stay alert and informed, because when it comes to our choices online, we should be the ones calling the shots.
And remember, the next time your shopping cart tries to sneak in something extra, you have the power to say, 'Not today, sneaky cart!’
What are some dark patterns that you have fallen for? Let us know in the comments!
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