dark pattern

Noun

1. A user interface that is intentionally designed to trick users into doing things that are not in their own best interest, such as giving up more information, or agreeing to unfavourable terms.
   • It was really easy to register an account on the app, but the option to delete my account seemed almost impossible, which made me feel like a victim of a dark pattern.
   • The Impersonation dark pattern occurs when these broadcasts communicate actions users never performed, thus misleading others. - 2014, Chris Lewis, Irresistible Apps: Motivational Design Patterns for Apps, Games, and...
   • Brignull's specific goal in identifying dark patterns was to recognize and name companies, and describe their dark practices so that people would be aware of dark patterns in an interface, and to shame the companies...