Dark Patterns Symbiosis Bright Patterns
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Bait and Switch

Bait and Switch subverts the user’s expectation that their choice will result in a desired action, instead leading to an unexpected, undesirable outcome.
Bait and Switch
Illustration

Interaction Contexts

  • checkout
  • settings

Harmed Goals

  • comprehension
  • control

Symbiosis

Bright alternatives to this dark pattern

  • Unambiguous Choices
    Design options with simple, clear language so users know exactly what each action will do.
    View pair →

Examples

Selfmade Example

User is required to pay for a video thought to be free
User is required to pay for a video thought to be free

Sources

Dark Pattern Ontology adapted from Gray et al. (CHI ’24)

Direct
Inferred

Pattern Levels

High-Level Patterns Strategy Domain & Context Diagnostic (abstract)

High-level patterns include general strategies that can be employed through a range of modalities and technologies and application types

Meso-Level Patterns Angle of Attack Domain & Context Diagnostic (interpretable)

Meso-level patterns describe a context-agnostic angle of attack and may be interpreted in relation to context based on the specific modality or application type

Low-Level Patterns Means of Execution Domain & Context Specific (situated)

Low-level patterns are situated and contextually dependent, including specific means of execution

Diagram: High (strategy, diagnostic), Meso (angle of attack, still diagnostic), Low (means of execution, context specific). Integrated textual descriptions appear within each layer.

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Paul Bertram 2026
Impressum Datenschutz

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Sources

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Pattern Levels

High-Level Patterns Strategy Domain & Context Diagnostic (abstract)

High-level patterns include general strategies that can be employed through a range of modalities and technologies and application types

Meso-Level Patterns Angle of Attack Domain & Context Diagnostic (interpretable)

Meso-level patterns describe a context-agnostic angle of attack and may be interpreted in relation to context based on the specific modality or application type

Low-Level Patterns Means of Execution Domain & Context Specific (situated)

Low-level patterns are situated and contextually dependent, including specific means of execution

Diagram: High (strategy, diagnostic), Meso (angle of attack, still diagnostic), Low (means of execution, context specific). Integrated textual descriptions appear within each layer.