Thomas Eßmeyer (né Mildner)
@thomasmildner.me
Designer and computer scientist ✏️💻 from northern Germany. Trying to make social media more social. In my research, I focus on ethical design, dark patterns, and online well-being. Now a postdoc at Uni Bremen. He/him
#hci #dpbsky
www.thomasmildner.me
#hci #dpbsky
www.thomasmildner.me
I’m truly honoured to share that my dissertation, "Mitigating Dark Patterns Through Responsible Design – Ethical Design Considerations for User-Centred Technologies", has been awarded the “Thematischer Preis” of the Bremer Studienpreis 2025. 🥳
#Bremen #UniBremen
#Bremen #UniBremen
November 25, 2025 at 1:39 PM
I’m truly honoured to share that my dissertation, "Mitigating Dark Patterns Through Responsible Design – Ethical Design Considerations for User-Centred Technologies", has been awarded the “Thematischer Preis” of the Bremer Studienpreis 2025. 🥳
#Bremen #UniBremen
#Bremen #UniBremen
Such an amazing article and very well-written. Really happy I got to chat with @caitlingilbert.bsky.social about the problems of social media, specifically TikTok. The harm of TikTok constantly engaging its users can be linked to studies showing that overuse of social media decreases well-being.
🤳EXCLUSIVE: We analyzed real data from over 800 U.S. TikTok users to reveal how the app transforms casual users into power users.
Extremely proud of this one, over a year in the making w/ @richardsima.bsky.social Leslie Shapiro @asteckelberg.bsky.social @ence.bsky.social
wapo.st/4obueib
Extremely proud of this one, over a year in the making w/ @richardsima.bsky.social Leslie Shapiro @asteckelberg.bsky.social @ence.bsky.social
wapo.st/4obueib
Here’s how TikTok ‘power users’ end up scrolling 4 hours a day or more
Washington Post reporters analyzed data from over 800 TikTok users to learn how the app turns people into power users, some of whom spend hours per day scrolling.
wapo.st
October 15, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Such an amazing article and very well-written. Really happy I got to chat with @caitlingilbert.bsky.social about the problems of social media, specifically TikTok. The harm of TikTok constantly engaging its users can be linked to studies showing that overuse of social media decreases well-being.
🎉I am extremely happy to be part of a wonderful group to organise CUI 2026 and bring it to the city I grew up in - 𝘽𝙍𝙀𝙈𝙀𝙉!
If you work in the field and want to engage and be part, we made an open call to look for organising committee members:
forms.gle/9HjLsSz4uZFK...
If you work in the field and want to engage and be part, we made an open call to look for organising committee members:
forms.gle/9HjLsSz4uZFK...
July 16, 2025 at 9:27 AM
🎉I am extremely happy to be part of a wonderful group to organise CUI 2026 and bring it to the city I grew up in - 𝘽𝙍𝙀𝙈𝙀𝙉!
If you work in the field and want to engage and be part, we made an open call to look for organising committee members:
forms.gle/9HjLsSz4uZFK...
If you work in the field and want to engage and be part, we made an open call to look for organising committee members:
forms.gle/9HjLsSz4uZFK...
Really great tips to enjoy CHI and not get fully overwhelmed! Thanks @altoombs.bsky.social 🙌
Austin’s Unofficial Rules for Not Dying (or Being Boring) at Conferences, particularly #chi2025
A short thread of practical survival tips for the conference grind:
A short thread of practical survival tips for the conference grind:
April 28, 2025 at 3:14 AM
Really great tips to enjoy CHI and not get fully overwhelmed! Thanks @altoombs.bsky.social 🙌
While it’s already great enough to be at #chi25 and meet old and new friends, I am also excited to be part of a SIG and two papers. Here, I’ll collect the details if you’re interested in this work and want to connect:
April 28, 2025 at 2:49 AM
While it’s already great enough to be at #chi25 and meet old and new friends, I am also excited to be part of a SIG and two papers. Here, I’ll collect the details if you’re interested in this work and want to connect:
Just made it to #Yokohama for #CHI2025 and I am extremely excited for our SIG on #DarkPatterns and the fantastic people I will get to talk to!
April 25, 2025 at 8:18 AM
Just made it to #Yokohama for #CHI2025 and I am extremely excited for our SIG on #DarkPatterns and the fantastic people I will get to talk to!
Reposted by Thomas Eßmeyer (né Mildner)
Since we didn’t retain the CC rights for this paper on #darkpatterns in #mobilegames so here‘s the author version on arxiv for public access 🙌🎮📱
arxiv.org/abs/2412.05039
arxiv.org/abs/2412.05039
December 9, 2024 at 8:19 AM
Since we didn’t retain the CC rights for this paper on #darkpatterns in #mobilegames so here‘s the author version on arxiv for public access 🙌🎮📱
arxiv.org/abs/2412.05039
arxiv.org/abs/2412.05039
This year was my first time at #MUM2024, and what an incredible community and conference it was! Thanks to all who made it happen in #Stockholm. ❄️🇸🇪
Not only did I co-host a workshop, but present two papers. And it still doesn't stop here: We received an honourable mention for one of them! 🏆
Not only did I co-host a workshop, but present two papers. And it still doesn't stop here: We received an honourable mention for one of them! 🏆
December 5, 2024 at 4:36 PM
This year was my first time at #MUM2024, and what an incredible community and conference it was! Thanks to all who made it happen in #Stockholm. ❄️🇸🇪
Not only did I co-host a workshop, but present two papers. And it still doesn't stop here: We received an honourable mention for one of them! 🏆
Not only did I co-host a workshop, but present two papers. And it still doesn't stop here: We received an honourable mention for one of them! 🏆
🚅Again in a train to the airport for my final conference of the year and what better destination than #Stockholm! At #MUM2024, I get to co-host a workshop and present two papers.. did not expect this academic year to wrap with such a wonderful opportunity! Thanks to all!
November 30, 2024 at 3:08 PM
🚅Again in a train to the airport for my final conference of the year and what better destination than #Stockholm! At #MUM2024, I get to co-host a workshop and present two papers.. did not expect this academic year to wrap with such a wonderful opportunity! Thanks to all!
Reposted by Thomas Eßmeyer (né Mildner)
Thursday's online #HCI BIG TALK: Heloisa Candello from IBM Research Brazil talks about #CUI #AI and #responsibleAI in her talk "A human-centered approach to responsible conversational user interfaces."
Online, free, all welcome! 2pm GMT, sign up here:
bighci.blogs.bristol.ac.uk/2024/10/03/b...
Online, free, all welcome! 2pm GMT, sign up here:
bighci.blogs.bristol.ac.uk/2024/10/03/b...
November 26, 2024 at 11:11 AM
Thursday's online #HCI BIG TALK: Heloisa Candello from IBM Research Brazil talks about #CUI #AI and #responsibleAI in her talk "A human-centered approach to responsible conversational user interfaces."
Online, free, all welcome! 2pm GMT, sign up here:
bighci.blogs.bristol.ac.uk/2024/10/03/b...
Online, free, all welcome! 2pm GMT, sign up here:
bighci.blogs.bristol.ac.uk/2024/10/03/b...
Reposted by Thomas Eßmeyer (né Mildner)
Great writeup of Veronica Krauss and team’s work on #darkpatterns and #generativeai by @stokel.bsky.social! Such a timely paper and good to see it reaching a broader audience.
www.fastcompany.com/91233844/cha...
www.fastcompany.com/91233844/cha...
ChatGPT was tasked with designing a website. The result was as manipulative as you'd expect
In a new study, researchers found that ChatGPT creates websites full of deceptive patterns.
www.fastcompany.com
November 26, 2024 at 11:56 AM
Great writeup of Veronica Krauss and team’s work on #darkpatterns and #generativeai by @stokel.bsky.social! Such a timely paper and good to see it reaching a broader audience.
www.fastcompany.com/91233844/cha...
www.fastcompany.com/91233844/cha...
The German science magazine „Spektrum der Wissenschaft“ interviewed me, alongside Deborah Löschner, for an article on #DarkPatterns. The article is in German but very informative!
www.spektrum.de/news/dark-pa...
www.spektrum.de/news/dark-pa...
Dark Patterns: Manipulation im Netz
Wie sich Menschen im Internet von »Dark Patterns« manipulieren lassen und wie sie sich davor schützen können
www.spektrum.de
November 22, 2024 at 12:24 PM
The German science magazine „Spektrum der Wissenschaft“ interviewed me, alongside Deborah Löschner, for an article on #DarkPatterns. The article is in German but very informative!
www.spektrum.de/news/dark-pa...
www.spektrum.de/news/dark-pa...
Congratulations @laststrawberry.bsky.social!! Well done! 🎉🙌
Congrats to the amazing Dr. Sanchez Chamorro (@laststrawberry.bsky.social) on her successful PhD defense at University of Luxembourg yesterday! For #darkpatterns scholars, her thesis on digital vulnerability is an absolute must read.
November 20, 2024 at 3:42 PM
Congratulations @laststrawberry.bsky.social!! Well done! 🎉🙌
Today might be remembered for many reasons, but I hope to carry these happy memories with me the longest! Thank you all very much!
During our workshop on Responsible and Ethical AI in CUI Technologies, with Nima Zargham, Rainer Malaka, and our Digital Media Lab, we had the great pleasure of welcoming a fantastic group of researchers from Eindhoven University of Technology, University College Dublin, and Stockholm University. 🎉
November 6, 2024 at 6:12 PM
Today might be remembered for many reasons, but I hope to carry these happy memories with me the longest! Thank you all very much!
During our workshop on Responsible and Ethical AI in CUI Technologies, with Nima Zargham, Rainer Malaka, and our Digital Media Lab, we had the great pleasure of welcoming a fantastic group of researchers from Eindhoven University of Technology, University College Dublin, and Stockholm University. 🎉
November 6, 2024 at 6:11 PM
During our workshop on Responsible and Ethical AI in CUI Technologies, with Nima Zargham, Rainer Malaka, and our Digital Media Lab, we had the great pleasure of welcoming a fantastic group of researchers from Eindhoven University of Technology, University College Dublin, and Stockholm University. 🎉
A couple more days 🎙️🎙️
Join us for a full-day in-person workshop to advance the discourse on Enhancing Human-Agent Interaction Through Thoughtful Persona Design at #MUM2024 in Stockholm.
thomasmildner.github.io/DAIP/
Join us for a full-day in-person workshop to advance the discourse on Enhancing Human-Agent Interaction Through Thoughtful Persona Design at #MUM2024 in Stockholm.
thomasmildner.github.io/DAIP/
MUM 2024 Workshop on Designing AI Personalities
MUM 2024 Designing AI Personalities
thomasmildner.github.io
November 4, 2024 at 7:15 AM
A couple more days 🎙️🎙️
Join us for a full-day in-person workshop to advance the discourse on Enhancing Human-Agent Interaction Through Thoughtful Persona Design at #MUM2024 in Stockholm.
thomasmildner.github.io/DAIP/
Join us for a full-day in-person workshop to advance the discourse on Enhancing Human-Agent Interaction Through Thoughtful Persona Design at #MUM2024 in Stockholm.
thomasmildner.github.io/DAIP/
Yesterday, I was fortunate to present my work on #darkpatterns and #responsibledesign at #TU/e. Thank you so much, Minha Lee, for having me. As always, it’s been a joy catching up and thinking about how to give people more agency when engaging with design. Hope to meet you soon again!
September 28, 2024 at 11:39 AM
Yesterday, I was fortunate to present my work on #darkpatterns and #responsibledesign at #TU/e. Thank you so much, Minha Lee, for having me. As always, it’s been a joy catching up and thinking about how to give people more agency when engaging with design. Hope to meet you soon again!
Didnt even realise: Bluesky now has over 10 million users, and I was #986,810!
September 19, 2024 at 12:53 PM
Didnt even realise: Bluesky now has over 10 million users, and I was #986,810!
🎓Although a few days have already passed, I still cannot quite grasp it. Last Friday, I defended my dissertation at the University of Bremen.
I'm deeply touched that I got to share this incredible moment with many friends, colleagues, and my family. Thank you all very much for being part of this! 💛
I'm deeply touched that I got to share this incredible moment with many friends, colleagues, and my family. Thank you all very much for being part of this! 💛
June 24, 2024 at 8:25 AM
🎓Although a few days have already passed, I still cannot quite grasp it. Last Friday, I defended my dissertation at the University of Bremen.
I'm deeply touched that I got to share this incredible moment with many friends, colleagues, and my family. Thank you all very much for being part of this! 💛
I'm deeply touched that I got to share this incredible moment with many friends, colleagues, and my family. Thank you all very much for being part of this! 💛
After what was an amazing 3 years, I submitted my dissertation at the University of Bremen, Digital Media Lab Bremen, titled: "Mitigating Dark Patterns Through Responsible Design - Ethical Design Considerations for Responsible Design" 🎉
May 16, 2024 at 4:02 PM
After what was an amazing 3 years, I submitted my dissertation at the University of Bremen, Digital Media Lab Bremen, titled: "Mitigating Dark Patterns Through Responsible Design - Ethical Design Considerations for Responsible Design" 🎉
Reposted by Thomas Eßmeyer (né Mildner)
Die Bayerische Datenschutzaufsicht hat die Cookie-Banner von etwa 1000 Webseiten überprüft und dabei zahlreiche Verstöße gefunden. Die Betreiber haben nun Post bekommen – und müssen ihre Seiten ändern.
netzpolitik.org/2024/bayern-...
netzpolitik.org/2024/bayern-...
Bayern überprüft: Cookie-Banner vieler Seiten weiterhin rechtswidrig – netzpolitik.org
Die Bayerische Datenschutzaufsicht hat die Cookie-Banner von etwa 1000 Webseiten überprüft und dabei zahlreiche Verstöße gefunden. Die Betreiber haben nun Post bekommen - und müssen ihre Seiten ändern...
netzpolitik.org
February 12, 2024 at 2:21 PM
Die Bayerische Datenschutzaufsicht hat die Cookie-Banner von etwa 1000 Webseiten überprüft und dabei zahlreiche Verstöße gefunden. Die Betreiber haben nun Post bekommen – und müssen ihre Seiten ändern.
netzpolitik.org/2024/bayern-...
netzpolitik.org/2024/bayern-...