Agent WranglersDeceptive design
Never steer people with tricks. Give accept and reject equal weight, show only true deadlines and stock, and never shame someone for saying no.
- Required 2
- Recommended 2
- Avoid 2
Required
Never fake urgency or scarcity
UXD-1 EU lawNever show a countdown, a deadline or a stock warning that is not true. Every "ends in" timer counts down to the stored end of the offer, and every "only 3 left" comes from the stock count.
Never design a platform interface that deceives or manipulates
UXD-4 EU lawOn an online platform with EU users, give the options of each decision the same prominence. Never ask again for a choice already made, and make ending the service no harder than starting it.
Recommended
Give yes and no the same weight
UXD-5Show every option of a decision as the same kind of control, on the same screen, with the same size, font and colour contrast. No option hides behind a link, a second layer or a scroll.
Track the EU Digital Fairness Act
UXD-8 EU lawName one owner who reads the Digital Fairness Act proposal within 30 days of its publication and lists which screens and rules it changes.
Avoid
Asking again after a person said no
UXD-6Store each "no" with its time. Show the same prompt to that person again only after 90 days, or when they open the setting themselves.
Shaming people who decline
UXD-7Label every decline option with a neutral phrase, such as "No thanks", "Not now" or "Reject all". Never word it as a confession, such as "No, I don't like saving money".
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