Negative option marketing: Difference between revisions

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'''Negative option marketing''' or NOM, is a ~~practice~~ in which businesses proactively make changes that restrict users freedoms in ways that take the users silence or inaction to be acceptance of the terms set by a company.

'''Negative option marketing''' or NOM, is a [[dark pattern]] in which businesses proactively make changes that restrict users freedoms in ways that take the users silence or inaction to be acceptance of the terms set by a company.

==How it works==

A company like a gym may make it super easy to sign up online. But when it comes time to cancel your membership to change to a new gym the consumer later finds out that they have to certify mail the gym to cancel the same membership they signed up for online. While a company could implement a easy cancel option they proactively choose not to keep those who would just accept the cost outweighing the time spent to cancel.<ref>{{Cite web |last=FTC |title=Enforcement Policy Statement Regarding Negative Option Marketing - negative_option_policy_statement-10-22-2021-tobureau.pdf |url=https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/documents/public_statements/1598063/negative_option_policy_statement-10-22-2021-tobureau.pdf |url-status=live |access-date=2025-11-02 |website=FTC GOV |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251209002749/https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/documents/public_statements/1598063/negative_option_policy_statement-10-22-2021-tobureau.pdf |archive-date=9 Dec 2025}}</ref>

A company like a gym may make it super easy to sign up online. But when it comes time to cancel your membership to change to a new gym the consumer later finds out that they have to certify mail the gym to cancel the same membership they signed up for online. While a company could implement a [[Click-to-cancel|easy cancel]] option they proactively choose not to keep those who would just accept the cost outweighing the time spent to cancel.<ref>{{Cite web |last=FTC |title=Enforcement Policy Statement Regarding Negative Option Marketing - negative_option_policy_statement-10-22-2021-tobureau.pdf |url=https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/documents/public_statements/1598063/negative_option_policy_statement-10-22-2021-tobureau.pdf |url-status=live |access-date=2025-11-02 |website=FTC GOV |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251209002749/https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/documents/public_statements/1598063/negative_option_policy_statement-10-22-2021-tobureau.pdf |archive-date=9 Dec 2025}}</ref>

==Why it is a problem==

===Consumer Entrapment===

By making the process as easy as possible ~~weather~~ it be creating an account or subscribing to a service users should have a say on if ~~there~~ account should be deleted or a subscription canceled by not providing these options to consumers they are effectively trapped for what they signed up for

By making the process as easy as possible whether it be creating an account or subscribing to a service users should have a say on if their account should be deleted or a subscription canceled, by not providing these options to consumers they are effectively trapped for what they signed up for

===Loss of ownership===

Specific devices like cameras, watches, light bulbs etc... may require app activation to use something that should "just work" out of the box. But instead force you to download something you did not consent to when purchasing it

Specific devices like cameras, watches, light bulbs etc... may require app [[activation]] to use something that should "just work" out of the box. But instead [[Forced app download|force you to download]] something you did not consent to when purchasing it

===Privacy===

With relating to accounts since you are not able to remove or delete them those companies may be actively selling that information that you have provided to them to other companies or brokers without your knowledge even if you decided you no longer wish to use the product the info will persist without your consent

With relating to accounts, since you are not able to remove or delete them, those companies may be actively selling that information that you have provided to them to other companies or [[Data brokers|brokers]], without your knowledge, even if you decided you no longer wish to use the product the info will persist without your consent

==Examples==

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 {{StubNotice}}
-'''Negative option marketing''' or NOM, is a practice in which businesses proactively make changes that restrict users freedoms in ways that take the users silence or inaction to be acceptance of the terms set by a company.
+'''Negative option marketing''' or NOM, is a [[dark pattern]] in which businesses proactively make changes that restrict users freedoms in ways that take the users silence or inaction to be acceptance of the terms set by a company.
 ==How it works==
-A company like a gym may make it super easy to sign up online. But when it comes time to cancel your membership to change to a new gym the consumer later finds out that they have to certify mail the gym to cancel the same membership they signed up for online. While a company could implement a easy cancel option they proactively choose not to keep those who would just accept the cost outweighing the time spent to cancel.<ref>{{Cite web |last=FTC |title=Enforcement Policy Statement Regarding Negative Option Marketing - negative_option_policy_statement-10-22-2021-tobureau.pdf |url=https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/documents/public_statements/1598063/negative_option_policy_statement-10-22-2021-tobureau.pdf |url-status=live |access-date=2025-11-02 |website=FTC GOV |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251209002749/https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/documents/public_statements/1598063/negative_option_policy_statement-10-22-2021-tobureau.pdf |archive-date=9 Dec 2025}}</ref>
+A company like a gym may make it super easy to sign up online. But when it comes time to cancel your membership to change to a new gym the consumer later finds out that they have to certify mail the gym to cancel the same membership they signed up for online. While a company could implement a [[Click-to-cancel|easy cancel]] option they proactively choose not to keep those who would just accept the cost outweighing the time spent to cancel.<ref>{{Cite web |last=FTC |title=Enforcement Policy Statement Regarding Negative Option Marketing - negative_option_policy_statement-10-22-2021-tobureau.pdf |url=https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/documents/public_statements/1598063/negative_option_policy_statement-10-22-2021-tobureau.pdf |url-status=live |access-date=2025-11-02 |website=FTC GOV |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251209002749/https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/documents/public_statements/1598063/negative_option_policy_statement-10-22-2021-tobureau.pdf |archive-date=9 Dec 2025}}</ref>
 ==Why it is a problem==
 ===Consumer Entrapment===
-By making the process as easy as possible weather it be creating an account or subscribing to a service users should have a say on if there account should be deleted or a subscription canceled by not providing these options to consumers they are effectively trapped for what they signed up for
+By making the process as easy as possible whether it be creating an account or subscribing to a service users should have a say on if their account should be deleted or a subscription canceled, by not providing these options to consumers they are effectively trapped for what they signed up for
 ===Loss of ownership===
-Specific devices like cameras, watches, light bulbs etc... may require app activation to use something that should "just work" out of the box. But instead force you to download something you did not consent to when purchasing it
+Specific devices like cameras, watches, light bulbs etc... may require app [[activation]] to use something that should "just work" out of the box. But instead [[Forced app download|force you to download]] something you did not consent to when purchasing it
 ===Privacy===
-With relating to accounts since you are not able to remove or delete them those companies may be actively selling that information that you have provided to them to other companies or brokers without your knowledge even if you decided you no longer wish to use the product the info will persist without your consent
+With relating to accounts, since you are not able to remove or delete them, those companies may be actively selling that information that you have provided to them to other companies or [[Data brokers|brokers]], without your knowledge, even if you decided you no longer wish to use the product the info will persist without your consent
 ==Examples==