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

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Meinhardt, Luca-Maxim, Demharter, Simon, Rietzler, Michael, Colley, Mark, Eßmeyer, Thomas, Rukzio, Enrico
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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author Meinhardt, Luca-Maxim
Demharter, Simon
Rietzler, Michael
Colley, Mark
Eßmeyer, Thomas
Rukzio, Enrico
author_facet Meinhardt, Luca-Maxim
Demharter, Simon
Rietzler, Michael
Colley, Mark
Eßmeyer, Thomas
Rukzio, Enrico
contents 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.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2506_06774
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Mind Games! Exploring the Impact of Dark Patterns in Mixed Reality Scenarios
Meinhardt, Luca-Maxim
Demharter, Simon
Rietzler, Michael
Colley, Mark
Eßmeyer, Thomas
Rukzio, Enrico
Human-Computer Interaction
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.
title Mind Games! Exploring the Impact of Dark Patterns in Mixed Reality Scenarios
topic Human-Computer Interaction
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2506.06774