Trust & Authority Abuse
Review Gating
Happy users go public. Unhappy users go to a private form with excellent acoustics.
What is it?
A product routes satisfied customers to public review sites while directing dissatisfied customers to private support or feedback channels.
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.
Filtered review flow
visual specimen
How was your visit?
Something wrong?
Psychology
Real World Example
- Five-star survey respondents are asked to review publicly.
- Low-score respondents are sent to an internal feedback form.
Origin: Local services, app stores, marketplaces, healthcare booking, and review widgets.
Ethical Alternative
Invite reviews consistently and make public reputation signals representative rather than filtered.
Toxicity Meter
Manipulation dimensions