Tell HN: LinkedIn has one of the worst dark patterns I have seen on the web
I checked my LinkedIn recently, and then hit the Sign Out button (a very common action with decades of precedence about how it should work, one would rightfully expect). Instead of just getting signed out, I was presented with a modal with two options – “Remember and sign out” and simply “Sign out”. The former of course was the primary action with a strong blue background, while the latter was grayed out. There was no more info about what the two actually meant other than a “learn more” link going to a separate help page.
But hold on, you are probably thinking, “remembering” is the exact opposite of logging someone out. And you would be correct, because the default outcome of LinkedIn’s “Sign Out” button keeps your session fully active in the browser, and the next time you visit the site you can directly open your account without any form of authentication.
It is an obvious example of growth hacking gone out of control, and while some PM can now demonstrate higher retention numbers on their way to a promotion, users are stuck with a more convoluted and insecure experience on the site.
But hold on, you are probably thinking, “remembering” is the exact opposite of logging someone out. And you would be correct, because the default outcome of LinkedIn’s “Sign Out” button keeps your session fully active in the browser, and the next time you visit the site you can directly open your account without any form of authentication.
It is an obvious example of growth hacking gone out of control, and while some PM can now demonstrate higher retention numbers on their way to a promotion, users are stuck with a more convoluted and insecure experience on the site.