A Taxonomy of Dark Patterns on Digital Lending Platforms: Evidence from a Survey of 15 Digital Financial Platform

Abstract

W With the growth of digital finance, platforms like JD Finance and ZhongAn Finance have become key public funding sources. However, they often embed “dark patterns”, manipulative interface designs that undermine user rights. Based on a study of 15 major financial platforms, this paper identifies 10 prevalent dark patterns, including “forced registration” “ambiguous annualized rates” and “difficult account cancellation”. Case studies reveal their manipulative logic by exploiting users' bounded rationality and restricting information access. Findings indicate that over 80% of platforms employ at least three such patterns, which disproportionately harm vulnerable groups like the elderly and students. To address these issues, we propose a tripartite governance framework integrating governmental regulation, platform self-assessment, and user empowerment, offering actionable insights for regulating digital financial services.