What a Stupid Way to Do Business: Older Adults' Perceptions of Deceptive Patterns

Older adults face significant challenges when navigating e-commerce environments, where deceptive design patterns—often termed dark patterns—frequently exploit their decision-making processes. Tactics such as artificial scarcity, urgency, hidden costs, and forced enrollment frequently lead to unintentional purchases and a general erosion of consumer trust. While older users often employ adaptive coping mechanisms like platform avoidance or cross-referencing information, they remain particularly susceptible to covert manipulations that are difficult to detect until a transaction is already underway.

To address this vulnerability, research into gamified inoculation strategies offers a promising path toward enhancing digital literacy. The serious game Shopopolis serves as a primary intervention tool, designed to educate users on common manipulative techniques while fostering a greater sense of agency. By simulating real-world e-commerce scenarios, the game allows participants to practice identifying deceptive designs in a low-stakes environment. Evaluations demonstrate that this approach leads to statistically significant improvements in the ability to recognize manipulative elements, alongside heightened awareness and concern regarding potential financial and privacy risks.

These findings underscore the necessity of tailored educational interventions that account for the unique digital experiences and cognitive needs of older populations. By moving beyond passive warnings and toward interactive, strategy-based learning, stakeholders can better equip older adults to navigate the complexities of modern online shopping. Ultimately, fostering resilience through gamified inoculation not only protects individual consumers from predatory practices but also promotes a more transparent and equitable digital marketplace. This research highlights the critical intersection of human-computer interaction and consumer protection, advocating for design-led solutions that empower users rather than exploit their trust.