Dark Patterns

Imagine this: you're scrolling on an app when an ad interrupts your browsing. You automatically click the "X" button, but it still redirects you to the ad's website. You close out of it, feeling quite annoyed, then find the tiny button that says "close" in the corner that finally removes the ad. We can explain this all too common experience using dark patterns.

Dark, or deceptive patterns, are misleading design techniques used in websites and apps to trick users into making unintended decisions. They usually guide users down a path that they never intended to take. These manipulative strategies can range from hidden costs to misleading navigation, all crafted to benefit the service provider at the user's expense. 

Think of when a website presents you with two options: accepting all cookies or selecting specific ones from a lengthy list. Often, when faced with limited time or understanding of each point, you might opt to accept all cookies, even if you weren’t planning on it. Another common scenario is when an app or website asks if you want the service to "use your activity to provide a better experience" – which actually means it wants permission to track all your data.1

Understanding dark patterns is crucial not just for consumers looking to protect their information online but also for designers committed to fostering trust and transparency in digital spaces. After all, dark patterns are made to benefit the organization or company rather than the user or client.2