Delete or Be Deleted: How to Measure the Cost of a Dark Pattern Before the Customer Deletes the App

A dark pattern is dangerous not only because it irritates users: it also leads to abandoned journeys, support requests, negative reviews, and app uninstalls. Yet interface quality is often assessed subjectively: the business talks about retention, while the user experiences pressure.

This talk presents a quantitative method for assessing dark patterns. We will compare paired user journeys - account registration and deletion, service activation and cancellation, consent and refusal. Each journey will be mapped as a graph with weights for every action and obstacle - a hidden menu item, an unnecessary screen, a channel switch, or a repeated retention attempt. Based on these values, we will calculate the journey cost, the asymmetry ratio, and the risk of user rejection. Using mobile app examples, we will show which elements create the greatest pressure and how audit findings can be translated into measurable requirements while preserving business goals without losing customer trust.