The X-Factors project, an MSc in Computing team-based initiative, provided students with a comprehensive learning experience that encompassed software engineering, machine learning, user experience (UX) design, ethical AI, and project management. The project focused on detecting dark patterns - manipulative design tactics used in digital interfaces - on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter). The X-Factors Chrome extension was developed to identify and alert users to deceptive interface designs that encourage excessive engagement, emotional manipulation, and data exploitation. This abstract explores the educational value of this project, examining how students deepened their technical, analytical, and collaborative skills while developing a real-world digital ethics solution.

This project produced many learning outcomes, and one of the most significant learning outcomes was the critical analysis of dark patterns, a concept first introduced by Brignull (2023) on deceptive design. Students investigated how social media platforms employ manipulative techniques to influence user behavior and engagement. They focused on seven dark patterns, including:
- Emotional Steering – Language and imagery designed to provoke emotional reactions.
- Autoplay – Videos playing automatically without user consent.
- Promoted Ads – Advertisements subtly integrated into content to appear organic.
- Engagement Notifications – Alerts designed to bring users back to the platform.
- Infinite Scrolling – A content-loading mechanism that removes stopping cues.
- Obstruction – Intentional design choices that make certain actions harder (e.g., unsubscribing).
- Privacy Zuckering – Misleading users into sharing more data than intended.

By engaging with these deceptive practices, students developed a critical awareness of ethical interface design, privacy concerns, and the broader implications of persuasive technology.

Students adopted a user-centered design approach by iteratively refining the user interface (UI) through various research and design techniques. They began by defining user personas and journeys, using survey data to create target profiles that reflected the needs and behaviors of potential users. This informed the wireframing and prototyping process, where students utilized Figma to develop multiple versions of the UI, allowing for structured experimentation with different layouts and features. To further enhance usability, they conducted A/B testing and gathered user feedback, focusing on refining the color scheme, iconography, and interaction design. By engaging with real users throughout this process, students gained valuable insights into cognitive load, accessibility, and information hierarchy, ensuring that the final product was not only functional but also intuitive and user-friendly.

The X-Factors project was a transformative learning experience, equipping students with a multi-disciplinary skill set encompassing, and this case study demonstrates the power of experiential learning, emphasizing that practical, interdisciplinary projects are essential in preparing students for the complex challenges of modern computing and digital ethics.

Keywords: e-learning, Dark Patterns, Teamwork.