‘Enshittification’ is coming for absolutely everything

It’s rare for a single word or theory to explain what is going on, especially about something as complex as the Internet.

But Cory Doctorow has done it. Last year, he outlined the theory.

But in case you want to be more precise, let’s examine how enshittification works. It’s a three-stage process: first, platforms are good to their users. Then they abuse their users to make things better for their business customers. Finally, they abuse those business customers to claw back all the value for themselves. Then, there is a fourth stage: they die.

Cory Doctorow

But this week in the Financial Times, he went further and explained the process, how it came to be, why it matters, and how we are actively fighting for a better Internet.

It’s worth a read (non-paywall link).

Also, “wherever you get your podcasts is a radical statement.”