How it works
Artificial Scarcity appears when a platform deliberately limits otherwise scalable digital access (likes, swipes, visibility, ranking, discovery, filters, or similar functionality) and places greater access behind payment.
The CHI question is whether the limitation reflects a genuine technical, safety, or quality constraint, or whether scarcity itself is being used to increase conversion pressure.
Recognition checklist
What to look for
The resource is digitally abundant
Providing another unit of access carries little or no meaningful marginal cost.
The limitation is deliberate
The platform imposes a quota, delay, visibility restriction, or other access ceiling.
Payment removes the shortage
A subscription, add-on, boost, or higher tier substantially relaxes the same limitation.
Where it appears
Associated companies
Important distinction
A limit can be legitimate without being artificial scarcity.
Rate limits, safety controls, abuse prevention, capacity constraints, or design choices intended to improve product quality can be reasonable. CHI focuses on restrictions that become materially more permissive when the customer pays.