Thread by @vponamariov

10 really DARK & TRICKY UX patterns you should never use 😈

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1. Forced Continuity

There is a popular joke: "Why do you need my credit card if it's a free trial?"

The trick is that when your trial ends, you start getting charged.

Usually without reminders, and without an easy way to cancel the subscription.

2. Price Comparison Prevention

The retailer makes it hard for the user to compare the price of an item with another item, so they cannot make an informed decision.

For example, it's hard to compare weight (kg) and the package of pears (without knowing the package weight)

3. Sneak into Basket

This is VERY common in e-commerce sites.

You order something in a webshop, and apart from what you've chosen, you'll get few additional things in your cart.

E.g. some services, insurance etc. So that you have to manually deselect it.

4. Misdirection

It happens when the user’s attention is guided to a specific place so they won’t notice something else that is happening

So here we have a nice colorful picture, good description, big CTA.

And something else that is hard to notice...

5. Friend Spam

This occurs when the product asks for the user’s social permissions under the pretense it will be used for a good purpose.

But then it will use your contacts for something bad, e.g. targetings ads or spam.

6. Privacy Zuckering

“Zuckering Interfaces” are cleverly designed interfaces that trick users into sharing more personal information than they intend to.

And it's hard to do otherwise because the cancel button is hidden (e.g. under Learn More)

7. Roach Motel

Here the idea is that it's very easy to sign-up/subscribe, but it's very hard to delete your account or unsubscribe.

I personally had this: in order to delete the New Relic account, I have to write a message on their forum! 😡

8. Hidden Costs

This is a very common thing in e-commerce. You make an order and it says that the cost is $40.

But there is a trick: it didn't count shipping costs. So the resulting price will be higher.

Really common thing, along with the "Sneak into Basket" pattern.

9. Tricky questions

In this case, the questions are written in such a way that it's hard to get what they mean.

A lot of jokes were made here.

Are you agree not to subscribe? Don't you want to receive our newsletter? Don't you agree to decline our offer?

10. Disguised Ads

In this case, ads are disguised so that it's hard to distinguish original content.

Happens pretty often. In the past, it was ubiquitous when a site had multiple download buttons, but only one of them is the true button, while others are ads.