![background-1487559_1280.jpg](https://gateway.ipfs.io/ipfs/QmRJCkDjf7m3KroKSHSeCcfAMU8fpyjE41qJMaS2jextPm)

Yesterday while watching YouTube, I saw a video titled *How Dark Patterns Trick You Online* on recommended. I thought it was about designing user interface and how dark background patterns showcase contents on top of it and may be the underlying science behind it. I got amazed on how relatable the content of the video was to my personal experience.

I started searching google about it. [Harry Brignull](https://www.90percentofeverything.com/about/) - an independent UX consultant from UK first coined the term *Dark Patterns* to represent unethical user experience design. He also created a [Darkpatterns.org](http://darkpatterns.org/) to create awareness and shame the bad practitioners.

In that website he showed many types of Dark Patterns evil designer used to manipulate user to increase profitability.

## Bait and Switch

Users are mislead to think their action will do something they are accustomed or they want but in reality it does entirely opposite. One popular example was Microsoft's Windows 10 upgrade pop-up. If user clicked '**x**' to close, it started downloading Windows 10 in the background.

## Forced Continuity

Charging users' credit or debit card after ending of free trail without notifying the user. Here are some [examples](https://darkpatterns.org/types-of-dark-pattern/forced-continuity).

## Ads in Disguise

In my opinion this is most prevalent and most seen dark pattern design. You want to down load something and on the confirmation page there are many download buttons with one "very small" but "real" download button. Their main goal is tricking users into clicking on those ads. You can see these on almost every pirated content download websites.

## Friend Spam

Tricking users to link social media profiles, giving permission to access their friend lists or contacts just to bombard them with unwanted email/sms to signup on the service. LinkedIn did this, many Facebook apps did this. I was a victim of spam from many unpopular social media sites and job search websites because my friend(s) singed up giving away my contact information.

## Hidden Costs

You saw something on sell, add it to cart, while checking out you found out price is not same as advertised or to get it at advertised price you have to purchase some other expensive item. Or there is a handling fee, or unusually high shipping charge. Some sellers on Aliexpress.com is culprit of the last. [Here](https://darkpatterns.org/types-of-dark-pattern/hidden-costs) is another example.

## Misdirection

Purposefully designing website or mobile app to focus user attention on one thing in order to distract user attention from another. Darkpatterns.org explained it elaborately [here](https://darkpatterns.org/types-of-dark-pattern/misdirection).

## Preventing Price Comparison

Preventing users from making an informed decision by making it hard to know real price or showing price as a packaged item or showing price per item but users have to purchase packaged. Once again I've seen sellers on Alexpress.com doing this.

## Privacy Zuckering

This name came from Facebook CEO which trick users to share more and more private information about them. IMO Busy.org is doing the same.

![Screenshot from 2018-03-30 21-35-55.png](https://gateway.ipfs.io/ipfs/QmYvYYXcGxPN76xBudeFJk93VRh5pQUNFZ6cHXJNAQPXEC)

## Roach Motel

Designing website or app to be very user friendly to sign up but very hard to delete account or unsubscribe from the service. Many newsletter services do it by blending unsubscribe link with the email background, or making unsubscribe a 3 steps process.

## Sneak into Basket

Another most used tricks by many famous companies is adding products based on recommendation directly into user's cart. Some user do not notice and end up paying for it. I have seen Godaddy.com, Register.com doing this.

Here is the video which lead to this post.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxkrdLI6e6M

So, what of these sneaky tricks you have fallen for or seen most often?

*Image Credit: [Pixabay.com](https://pixabay.com/en/background-vintage-colorful-texture-1487559/)*