dark pattern

English

Noun

dark pattern (plural dark patterns)

1. (graphical user interface) A user interface that is intentionally designed to trick users into doing things, such as giving up more information, or agreeing to unfavourable terms

   It was really easy to register an account on the app, but the option to delete my account seemed almost impossible, which made me feel like a victim of a dark pattern.

   • 2014, Chris Lewis, Irresistible Apps: Motivational Design Patterns for Apps, Games, and Web-based Communities:

     The Impersonation dark pattern occurs when these broadcasts communicate actions users never performed, thus misleading others.

   • 2015, Nicolai Marquardt, Proxemic Interactions: From Theory to Practice, page 140:

     Brignull's specific goal in identifying dark patterns was to recognize and name companies, and describe their dark practices so that people would be aware of dark patterns in an interface, and to shame the companies using them.