Dark Patterns Symbiosis Bright Patterns
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Nagging

Nagging subverts the user’s expectation that they have rational control over the interaction they make with a system, instead distracting the user from a desired task the user is focusing on to induce an action or make a decision the user does not want to make by repeatedly interrupting the user during normal interaction.
Nagging
Illustration

Interaction Contexts

  • checkout
  • consent
  • navigation
  • pricing
  • privacy
  • settings

Harmed Goals

  • control

Symbiosis

Bright alternatives to this dark pattern

  • Lean Processes
    Keep processes as simple and short as possible for the user.
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Examples

Selfmade Example

The user is pressured into singing up by saying that the user will waste money if missing out
The user is pressured into singing up by saying that the user will waste money if missing out

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.