Feedforward ambiguity
Sharing toggle has no visible state meaning
A fictional profile uses a switch labelled “Visibility” without saying whether the current position makes activity public or private.
Individual HTML example · Interface interference
“Continue” places a paid order
A fictional checkout ends with a button labelled only “Continue”, although activating it immediately places the €86 order.
This is an original fictional comparison. It depicts no real company and is not a legal finding or safe harbour.
“Continue” places a paid order
A fictional checkout ends with a button labelled only “Continue”, although activating it immediately places the €86 order.
Review complete. The final control gives no indication that it submits payment.. Continue. Place order and pay €86
Ready to place order. The action states the purchase outcome and amount.. Amount affected: €86: Place order and pay €86. Place order and pay €86. Continue. Payable total and selected items, expanded: The summary shows the line items and total before “Place order and pay €86” is activated.
Why the first version can mislead: The presentation changes what the user can notice or predict at the checkout decision. The problematic state shows: “The final control gives no indication that it submits payment.” Its influence should be tested by comparing the consequence and usability of “Continue” with “Place order and pay €86”. A shopper cannot predict that the next action creates a payment obligation.
What a fairer design does: Name the material outcome and payable total directly on the final control, before activation creates the order.
Show annotated differences (2)
Potentially problematic version
- Place order and pay €86In ““Continue” places a paid order”, this element shows how feedforward ambiguity can shape the decision.
Neutral alternative
- Payable total and selected items, expanded: The summary shows the line items and total before “Place order and pay €86” is activated.In ““Continue” places a paid order”, this element keeps the clearer alternative visible at the same decision point.
Review questions (3)
- Do “Continue” and “Place order and pay €86” receive comparable prominence and explain their consequences before activation?
- Compare the basket before and after the action, including total and line items; does the mutation satisfy “The action has a material outcome”?
- What neutral rendering or comprehension result would falsify the classification, particularly in light of “Conventional navigation with no material commitment”?
Complete pattern context
How this example relates to Feedforward ambiguity
A control does not let the user reasonably predict its material outcome before activation. The label describes a recurring design mechanism; whether a particular implementation is harmful or unlawful depends on the complete journey, audience, evidence and rules within scope.
The full guide explains inclusion and exclusion criteria, harms, fair design principles, evidence questions and the relevant EU legal information layers. The example page isolates one scenario so it can be shared and discussed without reproducing the complete library on one page.
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Support and migration locked into one plan
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Sources and provenance for this example
Evidence base
Sources
- An Ontology of Dark Patterns KnowledgeGray et al.; ACM CHI 2024 · Secondary · checked 2026-09-14 · DOI 10.1145/3613904.3642436; arXiv:2309.09640
- Unfair Commercial Practices DirectiveEuropean Parliament and Council of the European Union · Primary · checked 2026-08-09 · Directive 2005/29/EC; CELEX 02005L0029-20220528