Unmasking deceptive design
A literature review using topic modeling on publications about dark patterns
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 12935946 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Martin Yael Santana-Mejía (0000-0003-0766-2747, Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra), Martin Yael Santana (Pontificia Universidad Catolica Madre y Maestra – Campus Santo Domingo , Santo Domingo D. N., corresponding author), Victor Wilfredo Bohorquez-Lopez (0000-0002-1504-5899, Pontificia Universidad Catolica Madre y Maestra – Campus Santo Domingo , Santo Domingo D. N.) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Pages | 1-17 |
| Publication date | 2026-03-03 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Journal of Information Communication and Ethics in Society (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1758-8871 • E-ISSN: 1477-996X |
| Publisher | Emerald Publishing Limited (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1108/jices-08-2025-0224 |
| OpenAlex | W7133332816 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 30 |
Purpose The purpose of this study is to analyze publications on deceptive design indexed in the Scopus database, with a focus on identifying the yearly evolution of terminology and proposing a thematic classification that captures the most relevant research trends in this field. Design/methodology/approach The analysis was conducted in two stages. First, topic modeling was applied to article abstracts, organized by year of publication, to detect thematic structures. Second, grounded theory coding was used to classify and interpret the generated topics, enabling the construction of higher-level conceptual categories. Findings This study identifies an evolutionary model comprising four major themes: limited empirical evidence and problematic perspectives on deceptive design; reward systems and ethical practices in gaming; manipulation and deceptive design in consumer behavior; and deceptive design and user experience in online social environments. Practical implications The results can help designers, policymakers and businesses identify the evolution of deceptive design, anticipate regulatory or ethical concerns and develop strategies that promote more transparent and user-centered digital environments. Originality/value This study presents a novel evolutionary model of deceptive design research, combining computational and qualitative approaches. It not only synthesizes existing knowledge but also highlights underexplored areas, providing a roadmap for future investigations
Conceptual framework · Empirical research · Focus (optics · Grounded theory · Terminology · Thematic analysis · Thematic structure · Topic model · Digital Games and Media · Innovative Human-Technology Interaction · Privacy, Security, and Data Protection
The Dark (Patterns) Side of UX Design
Web of Science (WoS) and Scopus
Conceptualizations of user autonomy within the normative evaluation of dark patterns
Creative Manipulation
‘Hypernudge’
Topical review of artificial intelligence national policies
Topic Modeling the Research‐Practice Gap in Public Administration
Dark patterns in online shopping
Deceptive choice architecture and behavioral audits
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |