dark patterns

Syllable breakdown

Dictionary meaning

user interface design techniques that manipulate users into taking actions they did not intend — such as signing up for subscriptions, sharing more data than they wish, or making purchases they did not plan — by exploiting cognitive biases, creating false urgency, obscuring cancellation options, or using confusing language and visual misdirection; the term was coined by UX designer Harry Brignull in 2010; dark patterns are pervasive across e-commerce, social media, streaming services, and mobile applications, and have attracted regulatory attention in the EU under the Digital Services Act and from the US Federal Trade Commission, which has pursued enforcement actions against companies using deceptive interface design