How to protect yourself during Black Friday 2024 online shopping [Video]

Black Friday is here and as such retailers have launched tempting sales and deals to mark the occasion. 

Many people will likely have done their research and are ready and raring to snap up the best bargains – but those who aren’t after anything specific might find themselves spending money they hadn’t planned to, and buying things they didn’t really need.

This could be due to what is known in the online shopping industry as ‘dark patterns’, which are sneaky tactics companies use online to drive sales.

At one point or another, you’ve likely fallen for one of these tricks. But thankfully experts have shed light on some of the most common ones, so you know when a site is trying to ‘manipulate’ you and can protect yourself.

According to The DPO Centre (Data Protection Officers), dark patterns are clever design tricks used on websites and apps to subtly manipulate your choices. 

‘They might make you think a product is about to …