Computer Science
From Awareness to Action: Helping Adolescents Recognize and Resist Dark Patterns Through Interactive Design
Document Type
Conference Paper
Abstract
Dark patterns are interface designs that steer users toward decisions they may not have intended to make. These patterns are widely present in apps that teenagers use every day. Prior research suggests that while adolescents can often identify dark patterns when asked, they still struggle to resist them during actual interaction, a phenomenon described as the awareness–behavior gap. In this project, we combine an empirical audit with a planned behavioral study. In Study 1, we analyze dark patterns in three popular apps—Instagram, Shein, and Candy Crush Saga—using an established taxonomy, with additional attention to social influence cues. We identify 42 instances of dark patterns, with Interface Interference accounting for the majority (69%) and Aesthetic Manipulation as the most frequent subtype. Social proof cues appear in Instagram and Shein but are absent in Candy Crush, suggesting that their use depends on the app’s context and goals. Study 2 is a planned experiment that will test whether guided reflective feedback can help adolescents resist social proof in subscription interfaces. Although data collection has not yet been completed, the study is designed to explore whether reflection can help bridge the gap between awareness and action. Findings from the completed study will be presented at the poster session. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2026.
Publication Title
Communications in Computer and Information Science
Publication Date
2026
ISBN
9783032308252
DOI
10.1007/978-3-032-30826-9_28
Keywords
adolescents, dark patterns, digital literacy, reflective feedback, social proof, user interface design
Repository Citation
Bae, Aiden and Kim, Hyungsin, "From Awareness to Action: Helping Adolescents Recognize and Resist Dark Patterns Through Interactive Design" (2026). Computer Science. 250.
https://commons.clarku.edu/faculty_computer_sciences/250
APA Citation
Bae, A., & Kim, H. (2026, July). From Awareness to Action: Helping Adolescents Recognize and Resist Dark Patterns Through Interactive Design. In International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction (pp. 275-281). Cham: Springer Nature Switzerland.
