[jgerrish]

I found a really interesting potential dark pattern on a Smart Samsung washing machine the other day.

I had never connected the machine to the Internet since it was purchased. It always defaulted to Heavy Duty for the wash cycle. After connecting it to the SmartThings app and updating the firmware it now defaults to Normal for the wash cycle, which has a shorter run time and less energy usage I assume.

I can't prove it was intentional, but I know myself and what I might brainstorm in a product development or executive conference room. It's cynical, but I can see a company pushing online connectivity and using these kinds of "accidental" "post-manufacturing" issues as reason why. It's not quite Greenwashing but it is exploiting environmental stewardship.

I know this could bite me in the future, but I also want the knowledge out there regardless of who benefits or doesn't.