We are approaching a state of mutual assured cynicism, where neither the software nor the user trusts the other, and the only stable outcome is hostility. Once, Google Search was the least cynical software on earth. You typed a question. It gave you ten blue links. The first link was usually correct. The goal was to get you off Google as fast as possible.
Keywords: cynical software, dark patterns, user trust, subscription traps, ethical design, attention economy.
You can build the dark pattern. You can hide the cancel button. You can pre-tick the checkbox. The data says it will work. For a quarter or two, your metrics will improve.
