Deceptive Patterns
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The Economist: Requires call or chat to cancel subscription

Author
Dark Patterns Tip Line
Date
13 Oct 2023

“The Economist requires you to call a call center or use a live chat to cancel your subscription. This is a use of friction and social pressure to inconvenience those attempting to cancel.”

The Economist was reported to the Deceptive Design Tip Line over its subscription cancellation process. According to the report, cancelling a subscription requires the customer to call a call centre or use a live chat, which the reporter characterised as a use of friction and social pressure to inconvenience those attempting to cancel.