10 Dark Patterns

Your Phone Isn't Broken. It's Working Exactly As Designed

That anxiety you feel when you haven't checked your phone in 20 minutes? That's not a bug. That's the product. Let's name the design choices that are stealing our sleep, fracturing our attention, and rewiring our brains. Then let's fix them.

The Infinite Scroll of Doom

You meant to check one thing. Three hours later, you're watching a stranger's cat in Nebraska. The scroll never ends because ending would mean you might put your phone down. Can't have that. The fix: Pages. Remember those? Natural stopping points that let your brain say "that's enough."

Autoplay, The Attention Hijacker

You finished the video you chose to watch. Now you're watching something you didn't choose. And another. And another. Your agency disappeared three videos ago. The fix: Nothing plays without permission. Ever. Your attention, your choice.

Notification Russian Roulette

Ding! Is it important? An emergency? Your mom? Nope, it's an app you forgot you had telling you about a sale on virtual coins. But your cortisol spiked anyway. The fix: Notifications for humans only. Real people, real urgency, real respect for your nervous system.

The Echo Chamber Trap

The algorithm knows what you like. It feeds you more of it. Only it. Forever. Your world shrinks to the size of your last click. The fix: Mandatory diversity. Show me something I didn't ask for. Expand my world.

The Recommendation Rabbit Hole

You watched one video about cooking. Now the entire internet thinks you want to be a chef. Here's 847 more cooking videos. Resistance is futile. The fix: "That's enough for now" buttons. Recommendations that respect boundaries.

The Validation Slot Machine

How many likes? How many hearts? Pull the lever (refresh the feed) and find out! Maybe this time you'll hit the jackpot and feel worthy! The fix: Hide the numbers. Value the connection, not the count.

Streak Slavery

Miss one day and lose your 47-day streak! Never mind that you're sick, grieving, or just need a break. The streak must continue. The streak owns you now. The fix: Celebrate meaningful engagement, not mindless consistency.

Fake Points for Real Addiction

Congratulations! You've earned 50 ZapPoints! They're worthless, but your brain doesn't know that. Chase more points. Always more points. The fix: Reward real achievements, not manufactured milestones.

Countdown to Bad Decisions

"Only 3 left in stock!" "Sale ends in 10 minutes!" "Last chance!" Your rational brain shuts down. Your credit card comes out. The fix: Real scarcity only. Fake urgency is fraud with a timer.

The Roach Motel Pattern

Easy to enter, impossible to leave. Try canceling that subscription. We dare you. First, navigate our labyrinth of menus, confirm 17 times, and write an essay about why you're leaving. The fix: Exit equals entry. If it took one click to join, it takes one click to leave.