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Intent Hijacking

What is Artificial Urgency?

Invented deadlines and 'only 2 left in stock' warnings are designed to make you decide quickly, before you have time to compare options or reconsider.

Where it comes from

E-Commerce Growth Teams (2010s)

How it hooks you

Exploits loss aversion: people are roughly twice as motivated to avoid losing a deal as to gain the same item, so urgency triggers impulse buys.

How to resist it

Apply a 24-hour waiting rule to any non-essential purchase made under time pressure.

Where you’ll run into it

More intent hijacking tactics

Explore all 66 tactics in the app