Dark Patterns to Avoid
| Pattern | What It Does | Instead |
|---|---|---|
| Confirmshaming | 'No, I don't want to save money' | Neutral decline option |
| Hidden costs | Reveal fees at checkout | Show total cost upfront |
| Roach motel | Easy to subscribe, hard to cancel | Equal effort for both |
| Forced continuity | Auto-charge after trial without warning | Clear trial end notification |
| Misdirection | Design draws attention from important info | Equal visual weight for choices |
| Trick questions | Confusing double-negatives | Simple, clear language |
| Sneak into basket | Auto-add items to cart | Explicit user selection only |
Responsible Design
- Transparency: Users understand what they're agreeing to
- Fairness: Options have equal visual weight
- Respect: Don't exploit cognitive biases for profit
- Control: Users can easily undo, cancel, or change decisions
- Privacy: Minimum data collection, clear consent
Attention Design
- Don't design for addiction (infinite scroll without end, variable reward manipulation)
- Show usage time if appropriate
- Allow notification management
- Design for user wellbeing, not just engagement metrics