CONFIRM-

SHAMING

CONFIRM
SHAMING

The act of shaming users into agreeing to things they would not normally agree to.

Often, the option to decline an offer is phrased in such a way that guilts a user into compliance.

FRIEND

SPAM

FRIEND
SPAM

Users are encouraged to connect with contacts, not realizing they are about to spam everyone.

Okay, not everyone. But probably we’d prefer to keep the spam count at zero, right?

BAIT &

SWITCH

BAIT &
SWITCH

Have you ever been baited to select something that does what you did not intend for it to do?

You know that this pattern is present when designs don't do what is expected.

TRICK

QUESTIONS

TRICK
QUESTIONS

These are questions phrased in such a way that they inspire unintentional actions.

Sometimes, the intended or desired outcome isn't even an option to begin with.

MIS-

DIRECTION

MIS-
DIRECTION

When design elements direct the attention to one thing in order to distract from something else.

This is how many websites trick users into spending more of their money and time.

HIDDEN

COSTS

HIDDEN
COSTS

When items or add-ons are snuck into the basket without the user’s knowledge.

DISGUISED

ADS

DISGUISED
ADS

Advertisements that trick users into clicking on them through misleading text or design.

ROACH

MOTEL

ROACH
MOTEL

Any situation that is easy to get into, but difficult to escape.