Dark Patterns Hall of Shame

LinkedIn: Training AI on your content

Data, AI, consent. We’ve hit a point where more and more companies use your content to enrich themselves, often without asking first.

Figma: How to opt out of AI features?

In early 2025, Figma rolled out AI features that came with a surprise: the company had automatically opted all users in to have their design files used for AI training.

Trick Questions

Mailchimp: Sign-up process

Mailchimp's sign-up process uses a common deceptive tactic known as the "Trick Question".

Amazon: How to cancel Audible subscription?

The process follow some of the classic patterns out of dark patterns book designed to complicate the process.

Phosus: Pre-selected newsletter updates

At first glance, this sign-up screen may look straightforward, but it uses a subtle dark pattern known as "pre-selection" to automatically opt users in to receive marketing emails.

Groww: Checkbox preselection for credit score check

The app offers a “pre-approved” loan with a “Get started” button, but a pre-checked box below quietly grants permission to check your credit score.

LinkedIn: How to cancel LinkedIn Premium subscription?

Canceling a subscription should be simple. But often, it’s not. The user experience design that promises ease and transparency can sometimes serve other purposes, like making it harder to cancel a service.

StubHub: Dark patterns in event ticket sales

In August 2024, the Washington, D.C. attorney general filed a lawsuit accusing StubHub of deceptive practices.

X: Your data - our data

X recently introduced a new setting that allows them to use the content you posts to train their AI, Grok.

Reddit: See Reddit in...

Reddit's persistent push for users to download its app, despite clear signs of disinterest, is an example of a classic dark pattern known as "nagging."

TikTok: Nagging dark patterns

Despite repeatedly declining access to notifications and contacts, TikTok persistently asks for these permissions.

TradingView: Emotional subscription cancellation

The cancellation process of TradingView is a great example of how companies manipulate users' emotions when cancelling their subscriptions.

DoorDash: How to cancel DashPass subscription?

DoorDash DashPass subscription cancellation process. These steps reveal several dark patterns designed to make you think twice about cancelling.

HelloFresh: How to cancel HelloFresh subscription?

The Roach Motel is a common dark pattern used to trick people into subscription. HelloFresh uses this strategy to lower their cancellation rates.

Trick Questions

Green Man Gaming: Check to unsubscribe

Classic example of a dark pattern during a checkout process - "Trick question".

Dribbble: Dark patterns in subscription cancellation

Dribbble's cancellation process, showcases classic signs of the Roach Motel pattern.

Oodie: Online shopping guilt

In the intricate web of online user experiences, websites often deploy subtle tactics to guide user behavior.

Lyft: The misleading 60% off

Bait and Switch

Lyft: The misleading 60% off

In the digital landscape, advertisers continually push the boundaries to grab our attention. A prime method for this? The promise of unbeatable discounts.

Thirdwork.xyz retains subscribers with a deceptive dark pattern

Emails marketing is one of the ways for platforms to drive sales and generate revenue.

Coursera: Tricky enrollment process

As the world continues to rely on e-learning platforms to access education, it's becoming increasingly important to understand how these platforms operate.

London Zoo's ticket purchase process

Visitors looking to purchase tickets on the zoo's website might notice a dark pattern called misdirection, which is used to encourage donations.

Wish.com Confirmashaming dark pattern

Confirmashaming refers to the use of guilt or shame to influence a user's decision-making process when presented with a question.

Netflix's misdirection: Hiding the pricing tier

The company has recently come under fire for using dark patterns to mislead customers into paying for more expensive plans.

Which?: Classic usage of a Roach Motel dark pattern

"Which?" uses a classic dark pattern called the "Roach Motel" to trap its users and keep them subscribed.