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Hidden fees, subscription traps, fake urgency: These dark tricks are used by apps, study shows - BusinessToday
Business Today
·
2m ago
Medial
A study by LocalCircles reveals that drip pricing, where hidden fees are disclosed only at checkout, is one of the most prevalent deceptive practices on Indian apps and digital platforms.
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App anxiety: why users are extra cautious while using apps meant for daily convenience
Economic Times
·
1y ago
Medial
Many online shopping apps are using "dark patterns" to manipulate and deceive users into performing actions they wouldn't have otherwise done. These patterns include tactics like false urgency, hidden fees, and subscription traps. Even savvy users are falling victim to these tactics, leading to frustration, feelings of being cheated, and extra vigilance during online transactions. Reports indicate that a majority of sites and apps worldwide use dark patterns, highlighting the need for consumer awareness and regulatory action to address this issue. Dark patterns make technology stressful and counterproductive to its original purpose.
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Govt issues list of 13 dark patterns plaguing e-commerce websites
Inc42
·
1y ago
Medial
The Indian government has released a list of 13 dark patterns, deceptive designs used by ecommerce companies to manipulate users, as part of guidelines for prevention and regulation. The dark patterns include false urgency, basket sneaking, confirm shaming, forced action, subscription traps, interface interference, bait and switch, drip pricing, disguised advertisements, nagging, trick questions, Saas billing, and rogue malwares. These practices aim to mislead or trick users into taking actions that may not be in their best interests.
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Food delivery via aggregators amounts to Rs 9,000-11,000 crore of additional costs annually: report
Economic Times
·
10m ago
Medial
A new report reveals that ordering food through delivery aggregators in India results in an additional cost of Rs 9,000-11,000 crore per year. This includes convenience fees, delivery charges, packaging costs, and subscription fees. The report highlights that food delivery aggregators charge a premium of Rs 46 per dish compared to direct restaurant orders, impose 150-200% higher delivery fees, and charge Rs 2 more for packaging. The study also highlights disparities in pricing between aggregator platforms and restaurant-owned delivery platforms. These hidden costs can significantly impact consumers' finances over time.
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Smartphone users, this is the most 'dangerous' SMS that most people lose money to
Startup News FYI
·
1y ago
Medial
McAfee's Global Scam Message Study found that Indians receive 12 fake messages or scams per day, spending 1.8 hours weekly identifying them. Shockingly, 82% have fallen for fake messages, with fake job notifications and bank alert messages being common tricks. The study revealed that 60% find it harder to identify scam messages due to hackers using AI to make them more believable. Indians spend 105 minutes per week verifying messages, and 88% trust AI to detect online scams. To protect against scam messages, experts recommend thinking before clicking, being cautious if it seems too good to be true, and using scam protection software.
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The real reason you’re paying for so many subscriptions
Livemint
·
1y ago
Medial
Many people overpay for unused subscriptions, a hidden force driving the subscription economy. Americans spend billions on forgotten subscriptions. A survey by West Monroe found Americans underestimated their monthly subscription spending, with an average guess of $96 when the actual average was $273. However, there's a growing trend of strategic subscription management, with nearly 25% of US subscribers canceling at least three services in the past two years. A study found that card replacements led to a sharp drop in subscription retention, highlighting the inertia in subscribers. Proposed solutions include prompting users to actively choose renewal periods and leveraging usage data for personalized subscription reminders. The Federal Trade Commission has proposed a rule for annual subscription reminders.
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'Indians more mindful of money': Ted Sarandos tells Nikhil Kamath why Netflix India is tricky - BusinessToday
Business Today
·
2m ago
Medial
Ted Sarandos discussed Netflix's challenges in India, primarily due to cultural resistance against automated monthly charges. Indians are more mindful of their spending, preferring not to pay recurring fees. Netflix's solution includes a subsidized ad tier, attracting nearly 50% of new Indian users. While Netflix remains a subscription service, ads may contribute up to 20% of revenue. The key lies in balancing ad load and fees to maintain consumer interest without compromising content quality.
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Sobering revenue stats of 70K mobile apps show why devs beg for subscriptions
Arstechnica
·
4m ago
Medial
The RevenueCat 2025 report reveals that most mobile apps struggle to earn $1,000 monthly within two years of launch, explaining the push for subscriptions. Despite early subscription trials, many users cancel quickly, pressuring developers to sustain revenue through paywalls or upsells. Only a minority of apps attain significant earnings, with the top 5% vastly out-earning others. Developers may adopt more diverse pricing strategies, including AI-powered usage-based fees, to bolster monetization.
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One month with Microsoft’s AI vision of the future: Copilot Pro
The Verge
·
1y ago
Medial
Microsoft's Copilot Pro subscription, priced at $20 per month, offers AI-powered features within Office apps, priority access to OpenAI models, and enhanced image generation. The improved image creation tool, Designer, utilizes the DALL-E 3 model to generate high-detail widescreen images. While Designer's results can be impressive, it is not without its flaws, occasionally inserting random elements or struggling with text. Copilot Pro also brings AI capabilities to Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Outlook, allowing for text generation, visualizations, and email summarization. The subscription shows potential, particularly for image generation, but its value proposition may vary depending on individual needs.
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Namma Yatri starts cab service in Delhi NCR
Economic Times
·
12m ago
Medial
Indian ride-hailing platform Namma Yatri has launched its zero-commission cab services, branded as 'Yatri', in Delhi NCR. The platform aims to compete with Uber and Ola by not charging subscription fees or commissions until March 2026 for its electric auto rickshaws and cabs. Yatri offers various types of cab services at competitive prices and operates on a lifetime zero-commission policy. The company, along with its family of mobility apps, operates on the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) platform and follows a zero-commission model.
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For creators, regional apps are the gift that keeps on giving
Economic Times
·
1y ago
Medial
Mid-tier content creators in India are exploring regional and local language platforms like ShareChat (Moj), Rooter, and Eloelo to earn money through virtual gifts. These platforms allow creators to host shows or chat rooms where audiences can participate and send virtual gifts or pay subscription fees. The trend of virtual gifting is gaining popularity due to its simplicity and appeal to Gen-Z users. The market for virtual gifting in Indian short video platforms is expected to reach $1.7 billion by 2030. Creators are earning substantial amounts through virtual gifting and brand collaborations on these platforms.
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