A glossary of dirty tricks websites use against their readers

Mark Frauenfelder 9:02 am Tue Sep 3, 2019

Dark patterns are sneaky tricks websites use to fool users into doing things they don't want to do. This video and glossary describes a number of the manipulative ruses and gives some examples.

Confirmshaming
The act of guilting the user into opting into something. The option to decline is worded in such a way as to shame the user into compliance.

Forced Continuity
When your free trial with a service comes to an end and your credit card silently starts getting charged without any warning. In some cases this is made even worse by making it difficult to cancel the membership.

Sneak into Basket
You attempt to purchase something, but somewhere in the purchasing journey the site sneaks an additional item into your basket, often through the use of an opt-out radio button or checkbox on a prior page.

Roach Motel
You get into a situation very easily, but then you find it is hard to get out of it (e.g. a premium subscription).

Image: YouTube

This electronic ultrasonic bug and rat repellent device has a circuit to light LEDs, but nothing else

This "ultrasonic" pest repellent just has circuit to control LEDs inside from r/assholedesign This Adtala ultrasonic bug and rat repellent device is advertised as having an "Upgraded Smart Chip." Reddit user SoggyMonsoon opened the case and found a circuit with 2 LEDS, 2 diodes, and three resistors, but no Upgraded Smart Chip. Does it even… READ THE REST
Toilet designed to be uncomfortable to sit on, aimed at boosting employee productivity

A Staffordshire company called StandardToilet has designed a toilet with a seat that tilts downward, making it painful to sit on for more than a few minutes. From StandardToilet's website: It is estimated that in the United Kingdom alone, extended employee breaks costs industry and commerce an estimated £4 billion per annum. Moreover, medical studies… READ THE REST
How Disney teaches kids to be suspicious

It's important for kids to learn that the world is replete with charlatans, mountebanks, rascals, rogues, hustlers, flim-flammers, tricksters, and con artists. Disney is doing its part by selling a kit of "1001 Stickers" of famous Disney princesses like Ariel, Jasmine, etc. But when kids open the package, they'll see that 768 of the stickers… READ THE REST
With this book summary app, you can read an entire best-selling book in 4 minutes

It's a sad fact of modern life. Most people just don't read anymore. And, for those who do make the effort to dive into a new book once in a while, life's busy nature probably means it could take several days, to a few weeks, to maybe even a month or two to finally complete… READ THE REST
The PURO²XYGEN P500 Air Purifier makes sure your air is healthy and breathable

Once upon a time, air purifiers were mostly only found in the homes of the elderly, the environmentally sensitive, and the all-out germaphobe. Of course, after 2020, there's been renewed attention paid to everything that wafts through the air in everyone's homes and office spaces. Where health is concerned, nobody is skimping now. That massive… READ THE REST
This bioluminescent orb glows every night – and will keep you utterly transfixed

Bioluminescence is one of those products of nature that truly makes the average person step back and marvel at the absolute wonder of our world. Found in many types of aquatic life, science explains it as molecules in the body of a living organism that produce light, often when exposed to oxygen. While it may… READ THE REST