EU's proposed Digital Fairness Act takes aim at Duolingo streaks, autoplay, and manipulative apps
That off switch could reach well beyond social media. As WIRED notes, it would cover the daily streaks in apps like Strava and Duolingo. That could sting, since streaks are how those apps keep people coming back. Duolingo once wrote that a new streak animation alone made brand-new learners 1.7%... Read Entire Article
The European Union has recently proposed a Digital Fairness Act aimed at curbing manipulative practices in apps, targeting features such as Duolingo streaks, autoplay, and other dark patterns. This legislation seeks to protect both children and adults from addictive design elements. While it does not outright ban dynamic pricing, it does mandate transparency, showing users the current price and the maximum it could increase to in real time.
The act also introduces an off-switch for features like Duolingo streaks, which have been proven to keep users engaged. Despite this, there are exceptions, such as the exemption of surge pricing on ticket sales like those offered by Ticketmaster. This proposed legislation represents a significant step towards regulating app design, with potential fines of up to 6% of global annual turnover for large companies found in violation.
However, the act is still pending approval by the European Parliament and member states, and it would only take effect a year after its enactment. Google, Meta, and TikTok have already filed a lawsuit against a similar California law aimed at banning addictive feeds and features for users under 16.
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