📍 Where you are in the curriculum: Week 14 of 32

🔗 Building on: In Week 13 (AI Safety & Trustworthy AI), you learned how AI systems can be designed well or poorly. This week, we zoom in on one specific problem: when apps and websites are designed on purpose to trick you.

What Are Dark Patterns?

Have you ever tried to close a pop-up ad and accidentally clicked on it instead? Or tried to say "no" to something online, but the "no" button was tiny and hard to find? If so, you've already encountered a dark pattern.

A Simple Definition

A dark pattern is a design trick built into an app, game, or website that tries to make you do something you didn't plan to do. These aren't bugs or accidents — someone designed them this way on purpose.

The term was coined by a researcher named Harry Brignull in 2010, and since then, people have identified dozens of different types of dark patterns hiding in the apps and websites we use every day.

Real Examples You Might Recognize

🕐 Fake Countdown Timers

Ever seen something like "HURRY! Only 2:34 left to claim this offer!"? Many of these timers are completely fake. If you refresh the page, the timer starts over. They're designed to make you feel panicked so you'll click "Buy" without thinking.

🔍 The Hidden Unsubscribe Button

Have you ever tried to unsubscribe from emails? Sometimes the "unsubscribe" link is written in tiny, light-gray text at the very bottom of the email, almost invisible against the background. They have to include it (it's the law!), but they make it as hard as possible to find.

😔 Confirm-Shaming

This is when an app tries to make you feel bad for saying "no." Instead of a normal "No thanks" button, you might see:

• "No thanks, I don't want to save money"
• "No thanks, I don't care about my safety"
• "I'll stay unprotected"

These are designed to make you feel guilty or scared so you'll click "Yes" instead.

🎨 The Trick Question

Sometimes apps ask confusing questions during setup, like:

• "Uncheck this box if you'd prefer not to not receive our emails"

Wait... what? They make it so confusing on purpose so you accidentally sign up for things you don't want.

🪤 Roach Motel (Easy In, Hard Out)

Named after the classic roach trap ("roaches check in, but they don't check out"), this is when it's super easy to sign up for something but incredibly hard to cancel. You can sign up with one click, but to cancel you might need to call a phone number during business hours, wait on hold, and talk to someone who tries to convince you to stay.

Why Do Companies Use Dark Patterns?

The answer is simple: money. Every time a dark pattern tricks you into:

• Buying something you didn't want
• Signing up for a subscription
• Sharing your personal information
• Spending more time on an app (so they can show you more ads)

...the company makes money. Some companies make billions of dollars using these tricks.

Why Should You Care?

Dark patterns matter because they take away your choice. When you decide to buy something because you actually want it, that's great! But when you buy something because a fake timer scared you into it, you didn't really make that choice — the design made it for you.

Learning to spot dark patterns is like learning to see through a magic trick. Once you know how the trick works, it can never fool you again.

Think About It 🤔

Next time you're using an app or playing a game, watch for these tricks:

• Is anything trying to rush you?
• Is anything trying to make you feel bad?
• Is it easy to say "no" or close a pop-up?
• Can you clearly see what things cost?

In the next lesson, we'll look at the specific tricks that the apps on your phone use to keep you glued to the screen.