They designed it
to trick you.
Dark Wiki is the open investigative encyclopedia cataloguing every manipulative design pattern in digital products — with evidence, severity ratings, and the legal frameworks catching up.
Catalogued
Categories
Since 2022
Most Documented Patterns
Real examples. Real harm. Real consequences.
Confirmshaming
Guilt-tripping language on opt-out buttons to manipulate users into accepting. "No thanks, I don't want to save money."
Read Full Analysis →Roach Motel
Easy to sign up, impossible to cancel. Hidden cancellation flows, phone-only cancellation, excessive retention steps.
Read Full Analysis →Hidden Costs
Concealing fees, taxes, or surcharges until the final checkout step when users are psychologically committed to purchasing.
Read Full Analysis →Forced Continuity
Silently charging users after a free trial ends without clear notification. Auto-renewal with buried cancellation options.
Read Full Analysis →Misdirection
Drawing attention to one element to distract from another. Bright "Accept All" vs. tiny "Manage Preferences" on cookie banners.
Read Full Analysis →Privacy Zuckering
Confusing privacy settings that trick users into sharing more data than intended. Named after Facebook's repeated privacy scandals.
Read Full Analysis →Pattern Categories
Dark patterns grouped by the type of manipulation they employ.
Emotional Manipulation
Guilt, shame, urgency, and fear used to override rational decision-making.
5 patternsObstruction
Making unwanted actions difficult — hidden cancellation, multi-step opt-outs.
4 patternsSneaking
Hiding information, adding items to cart, or auto-enrolling without consent.
5 patternsVisual Interference
Misdirection, pre-selection, and design tricks that guide users toward a preferred choice.
4 patternsUrgency & Scarcity
Fake countdown timers, "only 2 left!" warnings, and artificial pressure tactics.
3 patternsData Exploitation
Confusing privacy controls that expose more user data than intended.
3 patternsForced Action
Requiring unrelated actions to complete a task — forced registration, social sharing gates.
3 patternsSeverity Index
How we rate the impact and harm of each dark pattern.
Critical 9-10
Financial harm, data exploitation, or illegal under EU/FTC regulations. Causes measurable user damage. Companies fined for these patterns.
High 7-8
Significant manipulation that most users cannot detect. Regulatory scrutiny increasing. Often involves financial or privacy consequences.
Medium 5-6
Manipulative but detectable by aware users. Degrades trust and user experience. Common in e-commerce and SaaS onboarding.
Low 3-4
Mild nudging that borders on legitimate persuasion. May cross ethical lines depending on context and user vulnerability.
Advisory 1-2
Grey area practices. Legitimate marketing techniques that could become dark patterns if applied aggressively.
Need a Dark Pattern Audit?
Our UX forensics team at Garnet Grid Consulting analyzes your product (or your competitor's) for deceptive design patterns. We deliver a full severity-scored report with remediation recommendations and compliance guidance for GDPR, DSA, and FTC regulations.
- Full-product UX forensic analysis
- Severity-scored pattern report
- GDPR/DSA/FTC compliance check
- Remediation roadmap & competitor benchmarking
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a dark pattern?
A dark pattern is a user interface design technique that manipulates users into taking actions they didn't intend. The term was coined by UX researcher Harry Brignull in 2010. Dark patterns exploit cognitive biases and psychological vulnerabilities to benefit the company at the user's expense.
Are dark patterns illegal?
Increasingly, yes. The EU's Digital Services Act (DSA) explicitly bans dark patterns. The FTC has taken enforcement action against companies like Epic Games ($520M fine) and Amazon for dark pattern practices. California's CPRA and Colorado's CPA include dark pattern provisions. The legal landscape is rapidly evolving.
How do I identify dark patterns in my own product?
Start with a UX audit focused on user consent flows, cancellation processes, pricing transparency, and opt-in/opt-out defaults. Ask: "Would a reasonable user understand what's happening?" If the answer is uncertain, it may be a dark pattern. Our professional audit service provides comprehensive analysis.
Who created Dark Wiki?
Dark Wiki is an open educational resource maintained by Garnet Grid Consulting LLC, a technology consulting firm specializing in AI, UX, and digital infrastructure. Our mission is to make deceptive design practices visible and accountable.