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this post was submitted on 19 May 2026
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Privacy
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Yes, I "like" the surprises scanning a unknown QR code. I hate this crap, same as this short URLs, it's not different from clicking on shady ad banners. A trustworth website don't need this shit, hiding its domain.
https://www.expandurl.net/
The QR code point to https://recaptcha.net/qr/mMs9S9g8
Your QR code scanner showns you the URL before you choose to open it, right? So I don't really get the comparison to short URLs. As with any normal link, you get to see the link before you choose to "click" the QR code after you scan it.
Ah, yes, dark patterns are okay because they can be worked around. Got it.
I don't understand, why is a QR code a dark pattern?
Edit: I have now read the entire Wikipedia page on dark patterns, I didn't find one that would match.
Because a qr code is not a url. You might get one flashed, but it's just like a 40 page eula: the amount of people who are going to pay attention is an order of several magnitudes smaller.
We start here: You see an URL -> if it's a shortened URL, that's problematic, if it's a normal URL, it's ok you can click it
Now we add a QR code to the equation: You scan a QR code -> You see an URL -> if it's a shortened URL, that's problematic, if it's a normal URL, it's ok you can click it
But you don't agree.
Why is adding the "You scan a QR code" step making a difference? You compare looking at an URL to reading a 40 page EULA, I don't think 1 line of text is comparable to 40 pages of text, but let's go with it. Some people won't read it, I definitely agree with that. If they click links without reading then, then they click links without reading them. Again, why is adding the step of scanning a QR code before the link shows up, making anything different? You can read and choose to click it or not all the same, whether the link appeared due to scanning a QR code, or whether it was on web page.