"Enshittification" is a term coined by author and activist Cory Doctorow to describe a common lifecycle pattern in digital platforms where they start out good for users, then shift to benefit advertisers or the platform itself, eventually becoming bad for everyone — including users, creators, and even the company.
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In Simple Terms
Enshittification is what happens when tech platforms gradually become worse over time, usually in pursuit of profit.
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The Lifecycle of Enshittification (per Doctorow):
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1. Starts good for users
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2. Platform offers value (free services, easy access, no ads) to attract users.
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3. Then shifts to favor creators or business partners
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4. More monetization tools for sellers, influencers, or advertisers.
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5. Then becomes exploitative to serve the platform itself
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6. Raises prices, floods users with ads, buries organic content, locks data, or removes features — all to extract maximum profit.
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Why It Happens
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1. Investor pressure: Platforms need constant growth
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2. Market dominance: Once they dominate a space, they can reduce quality without losing users (at first)
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3. No competition: Users have few alternatives or high switching costs
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The Endgame
1. Eventually, the platform becomes:
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2. Bad for users (too many ads, lost trust)
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3. Bad for creators (lower reach, worse revenue)
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4.Even bad for the company (user exodus, PR backlash)
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Cory Doctorow’s Summary:
“First, platforms are good to their users. Then they abuse users to make things better for business customers. Finally, they abuse everyone to claw back value for themselves.”
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Why It Matters
Understanding enshittification helps:
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1. Spot declining platforms early
2. Value open-source and decentralized alternatives (e.g., Nostr, Mastodon)
3. Make smarter decisions about where you build your work and identity online
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#Enshittification #NostrFixesThis #Opensource
#Nostr #Siamstr #SocialMedia
.
Why It Happens
.
1. Investor pressure: Platforms need constant growth
.
2. Market dominance: Once they dominate a space, they can reduce quality without losing users (at first)
.
3. No competition: Users have few alternatives or high switching costs
.
.
The Endgame
1. Eventually, the platform becomes:
.
2. Bad for users (too many ads, lost trust)
.
3. Bad for creators (lower reach, worse revenue)
.
4.Even bad for the company (user exodus, PR backlash)
.
Cory Doctorow’s Summary:
“First, platforms are good to their users. Then they abuse users to make things better for business customers. Finally, they abuse everyone to claw back value for themselves.”
.
.
Why It Matters
Understanding enshittification helps:
.
1. Spot declining platforms early
2. Value open-source and decentralized alternatives (e.g., Nostr, Mastodon)
3. Make smarter decisions about where you build your work and identity online
.
#Enshittification #NostrFixesThis #Opensource
#Nostr #Siamstr #SocialMedia
