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Deceptive Patterns

Explore the 12 deceptive patterns featured in the study. Learn about their prevalence, how they work, the impact they have on users, and ethical design remedies.

1

Privacy Deception

Manipulating users into unknowingly sharing more personal data than intended

There are 4 Variants of this pattern

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Privacy Deception
2

Interface Interference

Highlighting certain information on the interface and hiding others, misdirecting users into taking an action

There are 4 Variants of this pattern

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Interface Interference
3

Nagging

Constant pop-ups and notifications pushing users to take an action, making it difficult to finish their task at hand

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Nagging
4

Trick Question

Deliberate use of confusing or vague language, misdirecting users into taking an action

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Trick Question
5

Drip Pricing

Revealing additional fees gradually throughout the purchase process, making the final price higher than that originally quoted

There are 2 Variants of this pattern

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Drip Pricing
6

Forced Action

Forcing users to complete an unwanted action to proceed or access desired content

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Forced Action
7

Basket Sneaking

Adding unwanted items to a user's online shopping cart without their explicit consent

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Basket Sneaking
8

False Urgency

Creating a sense of artificial pressure, based on time or stock availability, to manipulate users into making rushed decisions

There are 2 Variants of this pattern

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False Urgency
9

Confirm shaming

Using guilt or social pressure to manipulate users into confirming an action

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Confirm shaming
10

Subscription Trap

Deceiving users into subscribing to a recurring service without fully grasping the ongoing commitment, often making cancellation difficult

There are 2 Variants of this pattern

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Subscription Trap
11

Disguised Advertisement

Masking advertisements as actual content that blends in with the rest of an interface, tricking customers into clicking on them

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Disguised Advertisement
12

Bait & Switch

Advertising a particular outcome based on the user’s action but deceptively serving an alternate outcome

There are 2 Variants of this pattern

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Bait & Switch