21 stories tagged dark-patterns, newest first.
89 points by motionlessveloc | 40 comments
A technical write-up reverse-engineering Block Blast's server-delivered traits, showing a rule that forces an unplaceable piece set when a high-value rewarded ad is ready.
7 points by kamphey | 3 comments
A free browser game styled like a Windows XP desktop where the player tries to cancel a fake premium subscription through a series of dark-pattern obstacles.
249 points by ksec | 69 comments
A Reddit r/sysadmin post warning that Grammarly sends messages to all organization users when an admin tries to cancel; the page shown is a Reddit block screen.
742 points by doubletwoyou | 446 comments
A satirical website parodying common annoying web patterns like popups, cookie banners, and newsletter prompts, asking why every website behaves this way.
379 points by tambourine_man | 148 comments
John Gruber's Daring Fireball post coining "dickover" for modal popovers that obscure web content to force unwanted interactions like cookie consent or newsletter signups.
800 points by ssiddharth | 469 comments
A personal blog post arguing against companies pushing users to download mobile apps instead of using their web versions.
449 points by randycupertino | 389 comments
A browser game where players try to select "No Tip" on tip screens built around 39 dark patterns, by vladimirj.dev.
381 points by OuterVale | 146 comments
Blog post by Nic Chan about being asked to build a 'fuck off contact page' that discourages users from contacting a business, and how to push back.
718 points by lelandfe | 379 comments
ProPublica investigation into how Intuit used lobbying, the revolving door, and dark patterns to block free government tax filing for 20 years.
445 points by firefoxd | 338 comments
A short blog post by Ibrahim Diallo complaining that a Windows OneDrive backup prompt offers only reminder intervals rather than a way to decline.
467 points by AndrewSwift | 298 comments
George Hotz blog post criticizing manipulative tech products like Hinge boosts, tip screens, and Uber algorithms that use psychology and AI to extract money from users.
373 points by pinewurst | 219 comments
FTC press release announcing action against Uber for enrolling consumers in its Uber One subscription without consent and making cancellation difficult.
470 points by todsacerdoti | 244 comments
A blog post by Rachel Kroll listing common web page annoyances, such as popups and tracking, that her own site deliberately avoids.
372 points by airstrike | 110 comments
An interactive satirical site that simulates the frustrating modern web browsing experience, starting from a mock search result page and layering on popups and banners.
2457 points by ChrisArchitect | 797 comments
FTC press release announcing a lawsuit against Adobe and two executives for hiding early termination fees and making software subscriptions hard to cancel.
372 points by ChrisArchitect | 240 comments
Mozilla Research report on how Microsoft uses design tactics and dark patterns in Windows to push Edge and undermine users' browser choice.
363 points by thunderbong | 283 comments
Fast Company article reporting airlines will earn a record $118 billion in extra fees in 2023 and explaining how their websites use design to pressure fliers into paying.
323 points by pjmlp | 204 comments
The Verge article criticizing Microsoft for using malware-like Windows 11 pop-ups to push users away from Google Chrome and toward Bing.
363 points by keepamovin | 268 comments
A blog post coining the 'Fuck You' pattern, describing how Instagram forces logins and blocks anonymous browsing even when users try to bypass the modal.
319 points by onion2k | 102 comments
User Inyerface is a browser game by Verhaert that challenges players to fill in a form built from deliberately frustrating, worst-practice UI design patterns.
823 points by robin_reala | 323 comments
Alex Charlton's project page with commentary on persuasion tactics on Booking.com and a Chrome extension that removes them.