Definition:
Default bias is the tendency for people to accept pre-selected options rather than actively changing them, especially under conditions of fatigue or information overload.
Usage Context:
Seen in consent forms, privacy settings, subscription renewals, software installation, and platform onboarding flows.
Critical Note:
Platforms exploit default bias by embedding their preferred outcomes into default settings. Responsibility for opting out is shifted onto users, while consent is assumed rather than meaningfully obtained.
elated Terms:
Status Quo Bias, Default Advantage, Choice Architecture, Behavioural Bias Exploitation, Quiet Assumptions