Dark Patterns Symbiosis Bright Patterns
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Obstruction

Obstruction is a strategy which impedes a user’s task flow, making an interaction more difficult than it inherently needs to be, dissuading a user from taking an action.
Obstruction
Illustration

Interaction Contexts

  • account
  • checkout
  • consent
  • navigation
  • privacy
  • settings

Harmed Goals

  • control
  • time

Symbiosis

Bright alternatives to this dark pattern

  • Lean Processes
    Keep processes as simple and short as possible for the user.
    View pair →

Examples

Selfmade Example

The user is presented many plans with varying cost and complex feature structure.
The user is presented many plans with varying cost and complex feature structure.

Selfmade Example

The user is required to complete a ridiculous amount of steps in order to delete the account, making it near impossible
The user is required to complete a ridiculous amount of steps in order to delete the account, making it near impossible

Selfmade Example

User is required to buy an intermediate currency in order to optain the desired item.
User is required to buy an intermediate currency in order to optain the desired item.

Heise

Source

Selfmade Example

Multiple preselected datasharing options are adverticed with great benefits, that are likely false
Multiple preselected datasharing options are adverticed with great benefits, that are likely false

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.