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● HIGH #DW-011 Data Exploitation

Friend Spam

Accessing a user's contacts and sending messages on their behalf.

What Is Friend Spam?

Friend Spam is a dark pattern that falls into the Data Exploitation category. Accessing a user's contacts and sending messages on their behalf. By exploiting specific cognitive biases, companies use this manipulative design technique to push users into decisions they wouldn't normally make.

Real-World Examples

✗ Dark Pattern

An interface employing the Friend Spam pattern purposely obscures the right choice and heavily pushes the user toward the manipulative action.

✓ Ethical Alternative

Clear, neutral design where all choices are presented equally without misleading framing or forced actions.

Severity Assessment

8.1

HIGH — Based on its impact on user autonomy and potential financial or privacy harm, this pattern is rated as HIGH.

Remediation

Replacing Friend Spam with ethical UX involves:

  1. Prioritizing user transparency and informed consent.
  2. Making opt-outs as easy as opt-ins.
  3. Removing asymmetric visual weights from critical choices.

Think your product might use Friend Spam? Book a UX audit →

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