The Rise of Enshitification

How Convenience Culture Could Cost Us More Than We Bargained For

Yesterday, I ordered food through a delivery app. What used to be a simple process now involves an additional fee for quicker service. This trend is similar to what happened with ride-sharing services like Uber, where the extra fee for a quicker service eventually became a necessity to ensure getting a ride. The ride now costs more than a taxi, which has been replaced by the now pricier ride-sharing options.

In a world where convenience and efficiency are highly valued, the concept of "enshittification" has quietly woven its way into our lives, reshaping our experiences with various services.

The term "enshitification" was coined by Cory Doctorow. Essentially, companies cater to their users to the point of indispensability, but eventually hit a stage where they abuse them to make things better for their business customers, and then abuse those business customers to claw back all the value for themselves.

This phenomenon isn't limited to just the realm of transportation; it has seeped into various aspects of our digital lives. Streaming services, for instance, initially liberated us from the confines of cable TV. Yet, as these platforms multiplied, so did the costs. Streaming, once hailed as a cheaper alternative, began to resemble the pricey cable packages it aimed to replace.

Music lovers found solace in platforms like Spotify, yet artists struggled to make ends meet due to paltry payouts. As profits funneled to the top, the creatives who fueled the platform's success were left grappling for a fair share.

Even cloud services, heralded for their accessibility and flexibility, started adopting a similar trajectory. What began as an affordable way to store and access data has evolved into a complex web of subscriptions and escalating costs.

This shift from user-centricity to profiteering reflects a broader trend of companies chasing immediate gains, often at the expense of long-term sustainability. The pressure to appease shareholders and maximize short-term profits can overshadow the importance of maintaining a balanced ecosystem.

Furthermore, if AI replaces copywriters and marketers, branding and marketing will be impacted. Companies that chatgpt their way into the markets will struggle to stand out. Only those with a true, unique, and great voice will be visible and successful. This can only be achieved by incredibly talented humans and a decent monetary investment. You cannot cheap out your way to greatness.

The enshittification of services is a reminder that the pursuit of convenience and progress must not come at the cost of exploitation and the loss of talent. By advocating for user value, interoperability, and a holistic approach to corporate responsibilities, we can curb the erosion of quality experiences and usher in an era where users and businesses thrive in tandem.

As we continue to prioritize convenience and efficiency in our lives, we may be unknowingly contributing to "enshittification." This term refers to the process where companies cater to their users to the point of indispensability, only to later abuse them for their own benefit. This trend is evident in the rise of delivery and ride-sharing fees, as well as the increasing costs of streaming and cloud services. The pursuit of convenience and progress must not come at the cost of exploitation and the loss of talent. By advocating for user value, interoperability, and corporate responsibility, we can ensure a sustainable and balanced ecosystem. Check out this thought-provoking article to learn more about how convenience culture could cost us more than we bargained for.