Mousetrapping
Mousetrapping is a deceptive practice that prevents or hinders a person from leaving a website, for example by disabling the Back button or opening new windows uncontrollably when they try to leave
What it means, how it is used and where it comes up, with its related concepts.
What it is and how it works
In the 1990s and 2000s it was associated with disreputable sites that chained pop-ups or redirects to retain visitors and show more ads. Browsers now restrict many of these techniques, such as unsolicited pop-ups and history manipulation, but variants persist.
It is a dark pattern: it harms the experience, erodes trust and may breach search engine and ad platform policies, as well as consumer protection rules against unfair practices. It should not be confused with legitimate ways of maintaining interest, such as recommending related content.
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