dark patterns
Manipulative design tricks
Dark patterns are design choices in websites and apps that deliberately manipulate users into doing things they didn't intend, like signing up for newsletters, making purchases, or sharing personal data.
These tricks exploit psychology—hiding unsubscribe buttons, using confusing double negatives on opt-out screens, or making the "accept all cookies" button bright while the decline option is barely visible.
The site used dark patterns to make canceling my subscription nearly impossible.
Deliberate deception or fraud
- misdirectionIntentional focus manipulation
- bait-and-switchFraudulent substitution tactic
- subterfugeDeliberate deception to conceal
- chicaneryDeception through clever manipulation
fraudulence · sleight · gimmickry · sham · misleading · obfuscation · fine print · asterisk
Small sweet baked goods
- trackingMonitoring location over time
- data miningExtracting insights from datasets
- profilingCharacterizing by patterns
- ad targetingDirecting promotions to specific viewers
algorithm · pop-up · autoplay · clickbait · banner ads · notification spam · paywall · subscription trap
Adhesive insect snare
- trick questionsDeliberately misleading inquiries
- disguised adsMarketing hidden as content
- preselectionChoosing beforehand from candidates
- obstructionSomething blocking the way
nagging · bait-and-switch · misdirection · drip pricing · fake scarcity · infinite scroll
Light push to prompt
- manipulationUnderhanded control of others
- persuasionConvincing through reasoning
- exploitationSelfish use of others
- frictionResistance between touching surfaces
anchoring · loss aversion · FOMO · social proof · sunk cost · cognitive load · habit formation · emotional manipulation
trickery
Deliberate deception or fraud
- misdirectionIntentional focus manipulation
- bait-and-switchFraudulent substitution tactic
- subterfugeDeliberate deception to conceal
chicanery · fraudulence · sleight · gimmickry · sham · misleading · obfuscation · fine print · asterisk · loopholes
cookies
Small sweet baked goods
- trackingMonitoring location over time
- data miningExtracting insights from datasets
- profilingCharacterizing by patterns
ad targeting · algorithm · pop-up · autoplay · clickbait · banner ads · notification spam · paywall · subscription trap · in-app purchases
roach motel
Adhesive insect snare
- trick questionsDeliberately misleading inquiries
- disguised adsMarketing hidden as content
- preselectionChoosing beforehand from candidates
obstruction · nagging · bait-and-switch · misdirection · drip pricing · fake scarcity · infinite scroll
nudging
Light push to prompt
- manipulationUnderhanded control of others
- persuasionConvincing through reasoning
- exploitationSelfish use of others
friction · anchoring · loss aversion · FOMO · social proof · sunk cost · cognitive load · habit formation · emotional manipulation · guilt-tripping
- digital annoyancesspam, pop-ups, ads, malware, viruses
- Digital Ethicsprivacy, data privacy, cyberbullying, misinformation, disinformation
- tech ethicsAI ethics, AI bias, data privacy, deepfakes, digital rights
- dark patternsbait and switch, hidden fees, roach motel, misdirection, sneaking
- antipatternsspaghetti code, dead code, code smell, technical debt, cargo cult
- digital wellnessinternet addiction, tech addiction, social media addiction, gaming disorder, digital detox