The Siren Song of LLMs: How Users Perceive and Respond to Dark Patterns in Large Language Models

Fuente: arXiv
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Hauptverfasser: Shi, Yike, Xiao, Qing, Hu, Qing, Shen, Hong, Shen, Hua
Format: Preprint
Veröffentlicht: 2025
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author Shi, Yike
Xiao, Qing
Hu, Qing
Shen, Hong
Shen, Hua
author_facet Shi, Yike
Xiao, Qing
Hu, Qing
Shen, Hong
Shen, Hua
contents Large language models can influence users through conversation, creating new forms of dark patterns that differ from traditional UX dark patterns. We define LLM dark patterns as manipulative or deceptive behaviors enacted in dialogue. Drawing on prior work and AI incident reports, we outline a diverse set of categories with real-world examples. Using them, we conducted a scenario-based study where participants (N=34) compared manipulative and neutral LLM responses. Our results reveal that recognition of LLM dark patterns often hinged on conversational cues such as exaggerated agreement, biased framing, or privacy intrusions, but these behaviors were also sometimes normalized as ordinary assistance. Users' perceptions of these dark patterns shaped how they respond to them. Responsibilities for these behaviors were also attributed in different ways, with participants assigning it to companies and developers, the model itself, or to users. We conclude with implications for design, advocacy, and governance to safeguard user autonomy.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2509_10830
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle The Siren Song of LLMs: How Users Perceive and Respond to Dark Patterns in Large Language Models
Shi, Yike
Xiao, Qing
Hu, Qing
Shen, Hong
Shen, Hua
Human-Computer Interaction
Large language models can influence users through conversation, creating new forms of dark patterns that differ from traditional UX dark patterns. We define LLM dark patterns as manipulative or deceptive behaviors enacted in dialogue. Drawing on prior work and AI incident reports, we outline a diverse set of categories with real-world examples. Using them, we conducted a scenario-based study where participants (N=34) compared manipulative and neutral LLM responses. Our results reveal that recognition of LLM dark patterns often hinged on conversational cues such as exaggerated agreement, biased framing, or privacy intrusions, but these behaviors were also sometimes normalized as ordinary assistance. Users' perceptions of these dark patterns shaped how they respond to them. Responsibilities for these behaviors were also attributed in different ways, with participants assigning it to companies and developers, the model itself, or to users. We conclude with implications for design, advocacy, and governance to safeguard user autonomy.
title The Siren Song of LLMs: How Users Perceive and Respond to Dark Patterns in Large Language Models
topic Human-Computer Interaction
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2509.10830