Bengaluru Designer Criticizes Swiggy Instamart for “Dark Pattern” in Free Add-On

A Bengaluru-based product designer, Chandra Ramanujan, has criticized Swiggy Instamart for automatically adding free tomatoes to his order, labeling it a “dark pattern” in the app’s design. Ramanujan highlighted that customers cannot remove the 500-gram free tomato add-on from their cart, which he shared via a screenshot on X (formerly Twitter).

In his post, Ramanujan expressed frustration with the platform, stating, “Very bad design in Swiggy Instamart, where an item is automatically added to my cart. I don’t want tomatoes, but I cannot remove it from my cart.” He explained that while he wasn’t being charged for the tomatoes, the practice of automatically adding items is a manipulation of user choice, which is a hallmark of dark patterns in design.

Dark patterns are design tricks that compel users to take actions they might not want, like making additional purchases or signing up for services without clear consent. Ramanujan’s post gained significant attention, viewed over 68,000 times, sparking discussions among social media users.

Many agreed with Ramanujan, asserting that customers should have the final say on what they receive. One user commented, “Offer freebies, but the customer must decide yes or no.” Others pointed out that competitors like Zepto allow users to opt out of such add-ons.

Despite some humor in the replies, with suggestions to donate the unwanted tomatoes, Ramanujan reiterated his concern for consumer control in e-commerce, stating, “I should have full control as a consumer of what I choose to receive.”

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