Time distortion, also known as temporal distortion, is a change in how someone perceives time. A temporal distortion has occurred when you have said to yourself, “I’ll only do this for five minutes,” while reading or playing a video game, only to look up and realize that two hours have passed.
In retail and digital design, the practice of purposefully constructing an atmosphere that makes it difficult to determine how much time has passed is widespread. People shop, play, or participate in other activities for longer lengths of time when there are fewer objects that remind them how long they’ve been in the store. Depending on how compulsive or moral the activity is that you are fostering, temporal distortion might be regarded as a dark pattern.
Consider casinos.