Attention Capture
Infinite Scroll
A bottomless page, now with plausible deniability.
What is it?
Content loads continuously so stopping requires more self-control than continuing.
How it works
The pattern changes the cost of thinking. It makes the preferred action immediate, emotionally charged, or visually dominant, while making the more reflective action slower, duller, or easier to doubt.
Visual Example
A simplified specimen designed to make the pattern recognizable at a glance.
Instagram-like feed
visual specimen
Psychology
Commitment BiasCognitive Load
Real World Example
- Feeds append new posts as the user approaches the end.
- Stopping points are removed from browsing sessions.
Origin: Social feeds, video platforms, shopping grids, and news apps.
Ethical Alternative
Add natural stopping cues, session controls, and ways to resume intentionally.
Toxicity Meter
☠️☠️☠️☠️☠️Manipulative
Manipulation dimensions
Emotional Pressure80%
False Urgency70%
Social Proof Abuse65%
Choice Restriction70%
Hidden Information75%