Dark Pattern
Deceptive design practices that manipulate users into unintended actions.
Definition
Dark patterns are user interface designs that trick or manipulate users into actions they didn't intend, like signing up for subscriptions, sharing data, or making purchases. These unethical practices prioritize business metrics over user wellbeing and are increasingly regulated.
Why It Matters
Recognizing dark patterns is essential for ethical design practice. Beyond ethics, dark patterns erode trust, generate complaints, and face increasing regulatory scrutiny with potential legal consequences.
Examples in Practice
Making unsubscribe buttons hard to find or requiring phone calls to cancel. Pre-checking consent boxes during signup. Creating false urgency with fake countdown timers. Hiding fees until checkout.