"Enshittification": 2023 Word Of The Year

Tecfai Editorial Team

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Post on Nov 30, 2024

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"Enshittification": 2023 Word of the Year? Understanding the Degradation of Services

While there isn't an official "Word of the Year" body that universally decrees a winner, "enshittification" has certainly earned its place in the lexicon of 2023, capturing a widespread sentiment of growing frustration with the decline of once-loved services. This neologism powerfully describes the gradual, often insidious, process by which a product or service, initially good, is deliberately degraded over time to maximize profits. But is it truly the word of the year, and what does it mean for consumers and businesses alike?

What Does "Enshittification" Mean?

Coined by the late internet theorist, Cory Doctorow, "enshittification" doesn't refer to a sudden, catastrophic failure. Instead, it describes a slow, strategic erosion of quality, convenience, and user experience. This process often involves:

• Reducing features: Removing functionalities, options, or benefits that were previously available. Think of free features becoming paid upgrades, or once-convenient tools being silently removed.
• Increasing prices: Simultaneously reducing quality while raising the price. This leaves the consumer paying more for less.
• Adding friction: Making the service more difficult, inconvenient, or annoying to use. This could involve intrusive advertising, convoluted interfaces, or intentionally confusing navigation.
• Prioritizing profit over user experience: This is the core of enshittification. The focus shifts from serving the customer to maximizing profits, even if it means sacrificing the user experience.

Examples of Enshittification in Action

Many everyday services are suspected of undergoing enshittification. This includes:

• Streaming services: Increasing subscription costs while simultaneously decreasing content quality or library size.
• Social media platforms: The introduction of intrusive ads, algorithmic manipulation, and privacy concerns.
• Software and apps: Reducing functionality in free versions, requiring premium subscriptions for basic features.
• Websites and online services: The implementation of increasingly complex CAPTCHAs, paywalls, or data harvesting practices.

Why Enshittification Matters

The concept of enshittification isn't merely academic; it has real-world consequences:

• Erosion of trust: When services repeatedly degrade, user trust erodes, leading to brand dissatisfaction and potential boycotts.
• Reduced customer loyalty: Customers are more likely to switch to alternative providers if the quality of a service diminishes.
• Negative impact on innovation: A focus on short-term profits over long-term value can stifle innovation and lead to stagnation.

Fighting Back Against Enshittification

As consumers, we have power. Recognizing enshittification is the first step. We can:

• Vote with our wallets: Choose services that prioritize user experience and avoid companies known for degrading their offerings.
• Support ethical companies: Patronize businesses that demonstrate a commitment to long-term value and customer satisfaction.
• Speak out: Share your negative experiences publicly and encourage others to do the same. Reviews and social media posts can have a powerful impact.

Conclusion: Is "Enshittification" the Word of the Year?

Whether or not "enshittification" officially claims the title of "Word of the Year" is less important than the powerful message it conveys. The term highlights a significant and growing problem in the modern digital landscape: the deliberate degradation of services for profit. By understanding and recognizing this phenomenon, we can collectively work towards demanding better from the companies we support. The future of consumerism may well depend on it.