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.

Misdirection

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.

Hidden Costs

The Globe and Mail: One ad, two prices

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

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.

Disguised Ads

Microsoft: Nasty Edge Browser ad

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

Misdirection

Delta Airlines: Customers should always pay more

Delta Airlines forces you to upgrade from Basic to Main Cabin by using a dark pat...

Hidden Costs

HashiCorp: One plan, two prices

When you go to the plans page on hashicorp.com you will see that the...

Roach Motel

Shutterstock: Terms and conditions apply

Each industry has its own dark pattern standards. Airline websites use...

Hidden Costs

Toronto Star: Price matters

We already have a diverse list of reputable newspapers such as The New York Times and The Economist, and we are thrilled to now add The Toronto Star to the mix.

Privacy Zuckering

Ryanair – when every page is a dark pattern

Ryanair Airlines is an excellent example of a company that will use as many dark patterns as possible...

Misdirection

Papa John's UK: Sneaky monthly subscription

When you use the Papa John's UK app, after placing...

Hidden Costs

StorageMart: Adds the cost without mentioning it to you

When renting a unit at StorageMart, customers are presented with a form that displays the price for the unit without any additional fees. The form clearly states the price, such as $47.99, and notes that the offer is available online only. After receiving the invoice for the first month,

Privacy Zuckering

Shaw.ca: Sign up only by receiving promotions

When you try to sign up for free WiFi with Shaw.ca...

Hidden Costs

Bloomen: Flowers with additional charge during checkout

Many e-commerce websites in North America foll...

Misdirection

CarID: Hard upsell during checkout process

When you select the desired product on the carID website...

Disguised Ads

Autopartsway: Sketchy ads

Autopartsway is a great example of a disguised ad pattern. When you try to interact with any element on...

Confirmshaming

Dailylook.com: Subscribe, or you'll be shamed

This is a great example of Confirmashaming by Dailiylook.com. During your stay on the website...

Misdirection

Freepik: Misleading UI

When attempting to cancel the Freepick subscription, customers are presented with a screen where they are asked to explain why they are cancelling. However, the primary button is labelled "Keep Premium," which is misleading and misdirects customers from their intended action of cancelling their subscription. This is an

Sneak into Basket

Name.com: Look for a "surprise" in your cart

When you buy a domain name on name.com, on the last step, you will get the item "Advanced Security + Privacy" added by default to your cart.

Misdirection

Aer Lingus: Accept or leave

When you enter the Aer Lingus website, it greets you with a blocking popup that asks you to accept all...

Roach Motel

The Economist: Tricky subscription cancellation

The Economist uses the Roach Motel dark pattern and asks users to call or text customer support services to cancel the subscription.

Roach Motel

Scribd: Classic roach motel situation

The Scribd cancellation process is one of the most classic representations of the "Roach Motel"...

Roach Motel

The Athletic: How to cancel a subscription?

When you try to cancel The Athletic subscription on their website, they will take you...

Roach Motel

Dropbox: 5 step subscription cancellation process

Dropbox's flow is one of the best representations of...