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Illusive Design Pattern
Visual Filtering

Fake imagery, comparison and beauty filters are all designed to distort reality.
Description
Exploiting human competitiveness for engagement.
Examples
- Filters that can beautify or touchup appearance used for comparison and to lower self-esteem.
- Misleading photos of apartments appear much smaller in person compared to photos because of wide-angle.
- Airbrushed fashion images used in social apps that are not realistic or representative of the user base.
- Unrealistic food designed to look more tasty whilst taking hours to prepare.
- Algorithms like Youtube rely on the shock factor for attracting engagement using their thumbnails that are digitally enhanced.
Post-AI Altruheuristics
Biases
- Framing Bias
- Priming
- Survivorship Bias
- Conformity Bias
- Affinity Bias
Biology
- Exclusion: Filters create misrepresentation and are not inclusive if user doesn’t realize filter is used.
- Status Play: User compare themselves to unrealistic ideals or have unrealistic expectations.
- Reminders: It’s a dangerous reminder that the user needs fixing.
- Anxiety: Repetitive exposure leads to renumeration and to depression.
- Comparison: Comparison to manufactured ideals designed to appear perfect leads to worry and more.
- Trust: False advertising.
CBT Distortions
- Shoulds e.g. I should look like that.
- Filtering e.g. Why can’t I look like that?
- Labelling e.g. I’m no good because I don’t look like this.
- Overgeneralization e.g. Everyone else is better.
- Discounting the Positives e.g. My features are not good.
- Jumping to Conclusions e.g. I should get this as it can fix me.
- Catastrophizing e.g. What if I can’t look like this?
Circ's Principles
- Balance: Always think about keeping the user in allostasis.
- Esteem: Respect the values & boundaries or the user.
- Transparency: Display risks of biases and distortions for illusive interactions that are unavoidable.
Mental Health
- Narcissism: Avoid the elevation of self-importance through power dynamics.
- Depression: Avoid comparison, highlight reels and distorted realities.
- Chronic Anxiety: Avoid the state of uncertainty and provide reassurance.
- ADHD: Avoid impulsive habit forming interactions and context switching.
Pre-AI Heuristics
Dark Patterns
None.
Gestalt
None.
Graphic Design
None.
Don Norman Principles
None.
Jakob Nielson Principles
- Match Real World: Photos are not representative of the real product or person.