Tech critic Cory Doctorow has coined a term for the growing sense that the internet is getting worse: 'enshittification'. In a recent podcast, he outlined a three-step theory to explain why platforms like Amazon, Google, and Instagram seem to be deteriorating.
Doctorow argues that the internet's decline follows a predictable pattern. First, platforms are good to their users to attract them. Then, they become good to business customers to monetise their user base. Finally, they extract maximum value from both groups, leading to a degraded experience for everyone.
The critic suggests that this process is not inevitable. He points to potential solutions, such as stronger regulation and user-owned platforms, that could reverse the trend. The podcast episode explores these ideas in depth, offering a diagnosis of what has gone wrong and a vision for a better internet.
