Dark Pattern
dark PAT-ernnoun
What it means
A piece of design so effective at manipulating users that acknowledging it would constitute a confession.
What it actually means
The unsubscribe button is behind a phone call on purpose.
How it is used in a sentence
"The retention flow is a bit of a dark pattern, but it converts."
Filed under
Digital Existentialism — Ideas that were briefly worth billions, explained by people who are briefly employed.
Diagnosis — The phrase already names a real problem. We define it properly.
Related entries
The Algorithm
Social Dynamicsthee AL-guh-rith-umnounEuphemism
An unseen ranking system, blamed for every failure of reach and never credited with the fact that you are still awake at two in the morning.
Real meaningIt is not suppressing your work. It is showing people what they actually want.
No-Code
Digital Existentialismnoh kohdadjectiveBafflegab
A tool that lets you build software without engineers until the exact moment you need an engineer.
Real meaningLow code, high subscription.