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What is the objective definition of a &#x27;roach motel&#x27; in deceptive design patterns?

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A roach motel is a deceptive design pattern where a user interface makes it intentionally easy to enter a process, such as a subscription, but makes it deliberately difficult or impossible to exit that same process. The term derives from the pest control brand Roach Motel, which marketed its traps with the slogan that roaches check in but they do not check out. In digital design, this occurs when a service allows a user to sign up with a single click but forces the user to navigate through hidden menus, lengthy phone calls, physical mail requirements, or confusing cancellation forms to terminate the agreement. The core objective of this pattern is to increase user retention and revenue by creating high friction during the cancellation process, thereby discouraging or preventing the user from leaving a service they no longer desire. By obstructing the off-boarding path, the service provider captures value through continued billing that the user would otherwise have actively stopped.

What is the objective definition of a 'roach motel' in deceptive design patterns?

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What is the objective definition of a 'roach motel' in deceptive design patterns?

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