Mind Games! Exploring the Impact of Dark Patterns in Mixed Reality Scenarios

TL;DR

This study investigates how four dark patterns negatively impact user experience in mixed reality, revealing significant discomfort and reduced intention to use MR devices, especially with manipulative designs, emphasizing the need for ethical guidelines.

Contribution

It adapts and tests four dark patterns in MR environments, demonstrating their effects and suggesting a re-evaluation of dark pattern classifications for immersive tech.

Findings

Dark patterns significantly reduce user comfort and increase reactance.

Manipulative dark patterns decrease intention to use MR devices.

Emotional and Sensory Manipulation have similar disruptive impacts.

Abstract

Mixed Reality (MR) integrates virtual objects with the real world, offering potential but raising concerns about misuse through dark patterns. This study explored the effects of four dark patterns, adapted from prior research, and applied to MR across three targets: places, products, and people. In a two-factorial within-subject study with 74 participants, we analyzed 13 videos simulating MR experiences during a city walk. Results show that all dark patterns significantly reduced user comfort, increased reactance, and decreased the intention to use MR glasses, with the most disruptive effects linked to personal or monetary manipulation. Additionally, the dark patterns of Emotional and Sensory Manipulation and Hiding Information produced similar impacts on the user in MR, suggesting a re-evaluation of current classifications to go beyond deceptive design techniques. Our findings highlight the importance of developing ethical design guidelines and tools to detect and prevent dark patterns as immersive technologies continue to evolve.