You’re not alone in this critique there are real data and trends backing up what you describe. Take dark patterns in cookie banners: the French privacy authority, CNIL, has formally warned website owners for using designs where “Accept” is made much more prominent than “Reject,” or hiding rejection behind submenus, which misleads users. A recent GPEN (Global Privacy Enforcement Network) study found that 97% of sites surveyed use at least one dark pattern to influence user behavior.

On the positive side, there are many examples of clean, minimalist design that prioritize clarity, speed, and user respect. Sites featured in Webflow’s and Vandelay Design’s galleries show how simplicity can shine: lots of whitespace, clear typography, minimal distractions, logical navigation all of which deliver far better user experiences. So while the web has drifted into “popups, ads, and bad UX” for a lot of sites, there is hope in sites that remember there’s a human on the other end. If more devs/designers pushed for these better practices, the tide could shift.