Collection of Dark Patterns and Unethical Design

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.

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.

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.

Redis.com: "Free" ebooks

Privacy Zuckering

Redis.com: "Free" ebooks

When you visit Redis.com to download one of their free ebooks, you will be presented with a form that requests your email address.

Amazon: How to cancel Amazon Prime subscription?

Amazon, a well-known company in North America, has been accused of using dark patterns in its services in the past.

Privacy Zuckering

Samsung: Forcing promotional emails

Samsung decides that you definitely need the optional item without providing this choice for you.

The Globe and Mail: One ad, two prices

The Globe and Mail magazine follows the same hidden cost strategy as many other magazines...

AppliancesOnline: Hidden cost at the last step

Sneak into Basket

AppliancesOnline: Hidden cost at the last step

When you try to buy appliances on AppliancesOnline, they sneak in a "3 Year Care Plan For Home" in your cart along with your item.

Microsoft: Nasty Edge Browser ad

When you try to download Google Chrome browser through Microsoft Edge...