The Downward spiral of the Internet: Understanding and Reversing Enshittification
Have you noticed a distinct decline in the online experience? It feels like platforms such as Google, Amazon, and Facebook are prioritizing profit extraction over user value. this isn’t a coincidence; it’s a pattern author and activist Cory Doctorow has brilliantly termed “enshittification.”
Doctorow’s new book, Enshittification: Why Everything Suddenly Got Worse and What to Do About It, dives deep into this phenomenon. It explains how once-user-focused products devolve, and crucially, what can be done to course-correct.
He recently detailed the mechanics of this process on Decoder, but the core question remains: what can you do about it now? Doctorow’s analysis centers on systemic changes – regulatory interventions and technical adjustments – rather than individual consumer action.
Why isn’t a call to “vote with your wallet” part of the solution? It’s a valid question, and Doctorow addresses it directly. He argues the problem isn’t your choices as a user,but rather the structures that limit those choices.
let’s break down the core of enshittification and explore potential pathways to a better internet:
* Phase 1: Benefit Users. Initially, platforms attract users by offering valuable services, ofen for free or at a low cost.
* Phase 2: Benefit Suppliers. Once a critical mass of users is established, the platform shifts focus to attracting suppliers (e.g., sellers on Amazon, creators on YouTube).
* Phase 3: Extract Value. the platform begins to extract value from both users and suppliers, often through increased fees, reduced features, or intrusive advertising.
Doctorow emphasizes that this isn’t your fault.Fixing this isn’t solely your obligation, either.However,if you have the power to influence legislation,he argues,you have a crucial role to play.
The good news? The open, innovative internet isn’t gone. It simply requires collective effort to reclaim it.
Wont to learn more? Here are some resources to get you started:
* The Vergecast episode with Cory Doctorow
Worth a look