Have you ever signed up for a free trial to get stuck in an auto-renewing subscription? Or struggled to unsubscribe from unwanted emails? You may have encountered what is known as “[dark patterns](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_pattern).” Dark patterns are design experiences carefully crafted to trick users into doing something they may not have intended to - like subscribing to a service, making a purchase, or sharing more personal data than desired. Some common dark patterns to watch out for include: - Hidden costs or subscriptions: When a free trial transitions into an auto-renewing paid subscription confusingly, burying the actual price details. - Rogue confirmation buttons: Placement of buttons that say “yes” rather than “no” or “cancel” to encourage accidental clicks that confirm unwanted actions. - Hard to exit: Making unsubscribe or account deletion processes unreasonably difficult through multiple confusing steps. - Sneak into basket: Automatically selecting add-ons, accessories, or other items to increase purchase size without clear consent. - Privacy zoning: Dividing personal data into separate sections with unclear “agreements” to confuse users into oversharing. - Social proof deception: Lying about popularity statistics to create a false sense of urgency or social pressure to act.