Opinion: Got an idea for a cool app? How big tech can turn it into a data-mining scheme

Demanding that tech do better is a long, scary fight. Livelihoods and reputations are at stake. As consumers we must be aware of the dark patterns lurking behind our screens and try to build healthy habits to protect ourselves and one another. — AFP via Getty Images/TNS

I used to work in tech as a user experience (UX) expert. I was a professional nerd.

Nerds in our industry like to begin their sentences with “Wouldn’t it be cool...,” as in “Wouldn’t it be cool if we could share photos with our friends from anywhere?” or “Wouldn’t it be cool if we could customise news to our tastes?” or “Wouldn’t it be cool if we could wear virtual makeup?”