What Are Dark Patterns in UX — And Why Designers Should Avoid Them

Have you ever clicked “X” on a pop-up, only to find yourself subscribed anyway? Or tried to cancel a subscription, only to feel like you were stuck in a digital escape room? These aren’t accidents. They’re intentional. They’re called Dark Patterns . 🌍 Introduction: When Design Becomes Deception In a world where attention is currency and engagement is everything, some companies choose manipulation over honesty. While these tricks may bring short-term gains, they cost businesses something far more valuable: trust . 🕳️ What Are Dark Patterns? Dark patterns are design tactics that trick users into taking actions they didn’t intend —like subscribing, oversharing data, or spending money. The term was coined by UX designer Harry Brignull in 2010 , and sadly, they’re still alive and well today. At their core, dark patterns exploit human psychology for business gain, at the expense of the user’s trust and autonomy. Example: Amazon’s Prime cancellation flow once required users to go throug...