Is Enshittification ruining the Internet?

In criticizing the decay in usefulness of online platforms, Cory Doctorow in 2022 coined the neologism enshittification, (which he calls enpoopification on public airwaves) which he defines as a degradation of an online environment caused by greed:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cory_Doctorow
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enshittification

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From a Google search – probably AI generated:

Enshittification is a term coined by Cory Doctorow to describe how online platforms degrade over time, moving through three stages:
first, they benefit users to build a loyal following;
second, they begin to prioritize their business customers (like advertisers) at the expense of users; and
finally, they extract all value for shareholders and executives, leaving a degraded experience for everyone else.

This process can also apply to other industries and services, representing a general decline in quality as platforms shift from serving users to maximizing profits.

The three stages of enshittification

Stage 1: Benefit the users. Platforms initially offer a high-quality experience to attract and "lock in" a large user base. For example, Google initially invested heavily in providing excellent search results with minimal ads.
Stage 2: Prioritize business customers. After gaining a large user base, platforms start to shift the value proposition towards business customers, like advertisers. This often comes at the user's expense, such as with increased, poorly labeled ads on search pages. These business customers also become dependent on the platform.
Stage 3: Extract all value. The platform then turns on both users and business customers to maximize profits for shareholders and executives. This leads to a significantly degraded experience, with platforms like Google now featuring a mix of ads, AI-generated content, and spam, even as users remain dependent.

Examples beyond tech

Software: Adobe's shift to a mandatory subscription model for its software is cited as an example, as it limits user control and makes it difficult to cancel services.
Ride-sharing: Companies like Uber have been accused of enshittification by becoming taxi companies themselves, taking large cuts of fares without absorbing the costs of owning a fleet.
Gig work: This concept can also apply to the underpayment of workers, where platforms prioritize profits over fair compensation.

Why it happens

Lock-in: Users and business customers become locked into a platform and find it difficult to switch, allowing the company to worsen the experience without losing its customer base.
Monopoly power: In many markets, platforms have achieved near-monopolistic control, reducing the incentive to provide a good user experience.
Profit motive: The underlying drive is the pursuit of profit maximization, especially in a competitive environment with weakened market constraints.

Comments by Colin:

I saw Sweets Online and First Source at the World of Concrete in January 1996. I was inspired to start specs-online.com which evolved into 4specs.com. The Sweets and First Source websites were essentially a page of advertising on the Internet.

I saw the Internet as replacing the 3-ring binder, not as advertising. Today most manufacturer websites are glossy brochures and with ads and not a meaningful resource for design and specification.

I would add Intuit Quickbooks to the bad list by discontinuing their desktop version and forcing users to go to their less-liked online Quickbooks and substantiallyincreasing annual costs.

Reddit is one of my go-to places for additional thoughts on a subject. Here are their comments on this subject:
What is meant when people talk about "the enshittification of everything"

Contact me if you have any questions or suggestions.

Colin

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Conspectus, Inc.
Publisher - 4specs
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