Not all bad technology is the result of incompetence. Sometimes, it’s intentional. Companies, developers, or advertisers can deliberately design technology to be frustrating, addictive, or manipulative. This practice, often referred to as “black hat” design, prioritizes profit or control over user well-being.
Black hat design involves using unethical or deceptive tactics in technology to exploit users’ behavior. These tactics can include deliberate inconvenience, confusion, or emotional manipulation. The goal isn’t to serve the user but to extract value from them—money, time, attention, or data.
Examples of Black Hat Technology
- Dark patterns
Websites and apps sometimes use interface tricks to guide users into decisions they didn’t intend to make. Pre-checked boxes, misleading buttons, or confusing cancellation paths are common. A simple unsubscribe might require navigating five pages and re-entering your password. That’s not accidental. - Addictive loops
Social media, gaming apps, and even some productivity tools can be designed to keep users engaged far longer than they intend. This includes endless scrolling, intermittent rewards, and notification systems that hijack attention. These are not user errors—they’re features by design. - Forced updates and degradation
Some companies release updates that slow older devices, pushing users to upgrade. Others intentionally make their platforms less compatible with third-party tools, reducing user control. Sometimes software becomes bloated or glitchy, but only in ways that lead to monetized upgrades or subscriptions. - Surveillance by default
Tech is often engineered to gather far more information than is necessary. Default privacy settings can be invasive. Opting out is made confusing or nearly impossible. Users are nudged toward accepting terms they don’t fully understand. - Dependency creation
Some systems are deliberately built to be indispensable. Companies may make it hard to export data, switch services, or operate independently. This is called vendor lock-in. It keeps users trapped, not served.
Why Would Anyone Do This?
The answer is simple: it works. These strategies often increase short-term profits, drive engagement metrics, or help dominate markets. When ethics are sidelined in favor of performance targets, user experience is sacrificed.
Companies that engage in black hat design often hope users won’t notice, or that the convenience they offer outweighs the harm. And sometimes it does—for a while. But over time, this approach builds distrust. Users become more skeptical, cynical, and exhausted. Once loyalty erodes, it’s hard to rebuild.
What Can Be Done?
Awareness is the first step. When users understand these tactics, they can resist manipulation, demand better alternatives, and make informed choices. Legislation is catching up in some regions, forcing transparency and user rights. Developers and designers also play a role. Ethical design prioritizes clarity, fairness, and long-term trust.
Bad tech isn’t always an accident. Sometimes it’s the result of intentional decisions made in rooms that prioritize growth over people. The more we recognize this, the better equipped we are to protect ourselves and reshape the digital landscape into something more honest and respectful.
