I'm going to tell you something the subscription industry doesn't want you to know: we designed these products to be addictive.
Not addictive like a drug. Addictive like a habit you don't notice. We called it 'stickiness' in meetings. We celebrated when users couldn't figure out how to cancel.
The dark patterns are everywhere. Free trials that require credit cards. Cancellation flows with 17 steps. 'Are you sure?' modals designed to make you feel guilty.
We knew most users only used 10% of features. We added more features anyway—not for users, but for marketing. 'Look at everything you get for just $29/month!'
The truth? Most software subscriptions could be replaced by a one-time purchase. Or a free alternative. Or just... doing without.
I left the industry because I couldn't keep pretending this was innovation. It's extraction. It's a tax on people who forget to check their credit card statements.
Now I help people escape the trap I helped create. It's not much, but it's honest work.
