A Day in the Life of an Enshittificator
From the Norwegian Consumer Council, a funny video that warns against the dangers of enshittification. It’s part of their Breaking Free initiative:
Digital products and services are steadily becoming worse. Software
becomes increasingly difficult and frustrating to use, websites and apps
are littered with ads and spam content, and useful features are removed,
degraded, or made subscription-only. This is part of a process called
enshittification.Enshittification happens in stages: First a company attracts users by
providing a valuable service, often seemingly for free or at an artificially
low price. The company then exploits those users to draw in business
customers, and finally abuses its business customers and claws back all
the value for itself and its shareholders.Enshittification is the result of a dysfunctional market, where companies
have been able to get away with mistreating and exploiting consumers.
Consumers are trapped in digital services, potential competitors are
shut out, and policymakers and regulators are unable or reluctant to
clamp down on anticompetitive, illegal and otherwise abusive behavior.
In practice, a handful of tech companies have become so powerful that
they do not have reason to fear any consequences.
Comments 7
thread
latest
popular
“Touching the brake pedal indicates acceptance of these new terms of service.”
Enshittification is so interesting to me. First and foremost, in my long-term, hyper online brain, it's a well known phenomenon. And, it drives me nuts. But, whenever I bring it up IRL, I just get blank stares. I have friends designing new apps - cool ideas, too! - where they just assume from the start that they will sell their users' information. They don't even understand what I mean when I say that's shitty. I've got to find a way to say it nicely and to make it clear enshittification only leads to one of two things: no customers or scale and then no customers. Design with the customer in mind!
The enviable enshittification of AI tools is another huge reason to avoid depending on them.
*inevitable, even
Exactly, the token maxxing and nerfing the models of lower tier consumers is really suss.
Excellent video. Some part of me is thinking that there are tech bros out there watching this and not getting the irony. As if this is validating their business strategy... :(
"Look at this cool how-to video!" 🫠
Hello! In order to comment or fave, you need to be a current kottke.org member. If you'd like to sign up for a membership to support the site and join the conversation, you can explore your options here.
Existing members can sign in here. If you're a former member, you can renew your membership.
Note: If you are a member and tried to log in, it didn't work, and now you're stuck in a neverending login loop of death, try disabling any ad blockers or extensions. Or try logging out and then back in. Still having trouble? Email me!
In order to comment or fave, you need to be a current kottke.org member. Check out your options for renewal.
If you feel like this comment goes against the grain of the community guidelines or is otherwise inappropriate, please let me know and I will take a look at it.
Hello! In order to leave a comment, you need to be a current kottke.org member. If you'd like to sign up for a membership to support the site and join the conversation, you can explore your options here.
Existing members can sign in here. If you're a former member, you can renew your membership.
Note: If you are a member and tried to log in, it didn't work, and now you're stuck in a neverending login loop of death, try disabling any ad blockers or extensions. Or try logging out and then back in. Still having trouble? Email me!