Design ethics and dark patterns

Check yourself · 7 questions · pass at 70%

1. 01

   What distinguishes a deceptive pattern from ordinary persuasion?

   • It works by producing a false belief or exploiting the user's limited patience
   • It's more visually aggressive
   • It increases conversion rates
   • It benefits the business rather than the user
2. 02

   A subscription takes two clicks to start and requires a phone call during office hours to cancel. Which pattern is this?

   • Roach motel
   • Confirmshaming
   • Forced continuity
   • Misdirection
3. 03

   A cookie banner has a large 'Accept all' button; rejecting takes two screens and nine toggles. Nothing stated is false. Is it deceptive?

   • Yes — it exploits patience rather than understanding
   • No — every option is present and accurately labelled
   • No — it's a visual hierarchy decision, not an ethical one
   • Only if the user later regrets the choice
4. 04

   How do most deceptive patterns actually get built?

   • Incrementally, through successive A/B tests that each win by a small margin
   • A senior stakeholder instructs the team to deceive users
   • Designers copy competitors without evaluating the pattern
   • Legal teams approve them to maximise revenue
5. 05

   Which test most sharply separates persuasion from deception?

   • Would it still work if you explained it to the user?
   • Does it increase conversion?
   • Would a competitor do the same thing?
   • Is it legal in your primary market?
6. 06

   Which are honest alternatives to deceptive patterns? Select all that apply.

   Select all that apply

   • Plain decline wording instead of confirmshaming
   • Cancelling in the same number of clicks as subscribing
   • An email before a trial converts to a charge
   • A smaller decline link that still meets contrast requirements
7. 07

   Why decide in advance what you won't build?

   • The pressure in the moment is social, not intellectual
   • It's required by professional design bodies
   • It speeds up design reviews
   • It protects you from legal liability

Revision · 9 cards

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