Linguistic dead-ends: the new deceptive pattern plaguing Japan

"Design is not a universal language. Not exactly."

"Language, culture, local laws, and current trends will impact the user interface. Japan, notably, prefers information density over minimalism."

"In their 2023 study, " Linguistic Dead-Ends and Alphabet Soup: Finding Dark Patterns in Japanese Apps," researchers at the Tokyo Institute of Technology found that not only are tricky, deceptive patterns (DPs) fairly common - present in 93.5% of 200 sampled apps - but that there was a new deceptive pattern rearing its ugly head."

"" Linguistic Dead-Ends refer to language and symbol use that prevents a user from understanding..."

Tricky deceptive patterns appear in a large majority of sampled Japanese apps, with 93.5% of 200 apps showing one or more such patterns. A novel category, linguistic dead-ends, uses language and symbols that prevent users from understanding choices, increasing confusion and the likelihood of unintended actions. Japanese interface preferences emphasize information density rather than minimalist layouts, and language, culture, local laws, and trends shape how interfaces present options. These region-specific norms produce deceptive patterns that differ from Western markets and require localized identification and mitigation strategies to protect users.

Read at Medium