Enshittification: Difference between revisions

Line 6:

==How it works==

The platform decay practice is done by three stages. Initially, the companies create high-quality products or services offerings, usually by offering users a product or service at a low price (or sometimes for free). This works as an easy way to attract users and consumers and undercut the competition. Later, the offerings and the platform quality declines, usually with subtle changes, to enworse users' experience for doing a transition to prioritize business customer profits. At the end they decline the quality for both regular and business consumers, this to prioritize shareholder profits. ~~The decay of~~ the ~~platforms~~ could make the provider companies to end ~~with~~ an unrepairable reputation or even in bankrupcy.

The platform decay practice is done by three stages. Initially, the companies create high-quality products or services offerings, usually by offering users a product or service at a low price (or sometimes for free). This works as an easy way to attract users and consumers and undercut the competition. Later, the offerings and the platform quality declines, usually with subtle changes, to enworse users' experience for doing a transition to prioritize business customer profits. At the end they decline the quality for both regular and business consumers, this to prioritize shareholder profits.

Enshittification is also a common practice amongst large corporations that provide a product or service that is a monopoly. When there's no significant competence, the enshittification may last longer as users couldn't leave the platform because they're used to it or are unable to find similar alternatives that can fit their needs.

These practices also could make the provider companies to end having an unrepairable reputation or even falling in bankrupcy in some cases.

<blockquote>''"It is a seemingly inevitable consequence arising from the combination of the ease of changing how a platform allocates value, combined with the nature of a "two-sided market," where a platform sits between buyers and sellers, hold each hostage to the other, raking off an ever-larger share of the value that passes between them."'' <ref>{{Cite web |last=Doctorow |first=Cory |date=23 Jan 2023 |title=The ‘Enshittification’ of TikTok |url=https://www.wired.com/story/tiktok-platforms-cory-doctorow/ |url-status=live |access-date=18 Aug 2025 |website=WIRED |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260120085207/https://www.wired.com/story/tiktok-platforms-cory-doctorow/ |archive-date=20 Jan 2026}}</ref></blockquote>- Cory Doctorow ''Wired,'' 2023

===Stage 1 - Incentivizing Mass Adoption===

Companies begin with offering a product or service focused on provide a high-quality experience or usage for the user, along with constantly listening to user feedback. Another common practice to attract users is also by providing a cheap or accessible price for the mayority of consumers. This leads into product or service ~~visibility and~~ makes ~~easier to establish a~~ communities and userbases.

Companies begin with offering a product or service focused on provide a high-quality experience or usage for the user, along with constantly listening to user feedback. Another common practice to attract users is also by providing a cheap or accessible price for the mayority of consumers. They basically create something "too good" to be free or low-cost. This leads into a visible and well-known product or service that makes easy the establishment of communities and userbases.

A documented example of this phase occurs with [[Uber]] aggressively usinginvestor capital to fund massive subsidies, paying to acquire both drivers and passengers.<ref>{{Cite web |title=How Uber Disrupted An Industry With An Explosive Approach |url=https://www.cascade.app/studies/uber-strategy-study#:~:text=Uber%20combined%20that%20initial%20campaign,rider%20sides%20faster%20and%20easier. |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251112132833/https://www.cascade.app/studies/uber-strategy-study |archive-date=12 Nov 2025}}</ref> It was initially well-received for offering competitive prices for transportation, leading to a large userbase adopting the platform.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wolff |first=Micheal |date=22 Dec 2013 |title=Wolff: The tech company of the year is Uber |url=https://eu.usatoday.com/story/money/columnist/wolff/2013/12/22/the-success-of-app-based-car-service-uber/4141669/ |url-status=live |access-date=18 Aug 2025 |website=USA TODAY |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250414222632/https://eu.usatoday.com/story/money/columnist/wolff/2013/12/22/the-success-of-app-based-car-service-uber/4141669/ |archive-date=14 Apr 2025}}</ref>

Line 46:

Line 50:

==Possible solutions==

===Legislations and movements===

...

===End-to-end principal===

...

Line 52:

Line 58:

The right of exit, or Data portability, is the right of a user to leave a platform without losing the data stored on it, and instead being able to export it and access it in various applications of the user's liking.<ref>{{Cite web |title=DataPortability Project |url=http://www.dataportability.org/ |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090723171111/http://www.dataportability.org/ |archive-date=23 Jul 2009 |access-date=18 Aug 2025 |website=DataPortability}}</ref>

==Common signals==

Products and services that are affected by enshittification usually apply these practices (that could be subtle at first) on their product or services:

*Modifications of [[terms of service]] or [[terms of use]] to include anti-consumer practices.

*[[Advertising overload]].

*[[Pay-walling]] or limiting functions or features, usually ones that used to be free at first. This can also end into [[monetization overload]]. In some cases, a function or feature might be completely removed.

*Price gouging or [[surge pricing]].

*In physical products, usage of lower-quality or durability materials to manufacture the products, something that is usually alongside with [[planned obsolescence]].

*In software, integration of advertisements and [[Bloatware]]. Low-quality updates and features.

*Provider companies ignoring user feedback that involves in reverting or removing features that reduce partnership or shareholder profitting.

==Examples==

Line 92:

Line 110:

'''[[Discord]]:'''

Discord's primary selling point is that it is the most-used method of communication, especially for communities~~, online~~.{{Citation needed}} Because of this dominance, it has caused barriers for users intending to switch to alternative platforms such as Stoat or Matrix, as a lack of common users between platforms makes it difficult for more users to transfer over.{{Citation needed}} This fact has been abused by Discord with its infrastructure showing signs of decay,{{Citation needed}} the introduction of advertisements in the format of "quests",{{Citation needed}} and the degradation of free perks.{{Citation needed}}

Discord's primary selling point is that it is the most-used method of online communication, especially for communities.{{Citation needed}} Because of this dominance, it has caused barriers for users intending to switch to alternative platforms such as Stoat or Matrix, as a lack of common users between platforms makes it difficult for more users to transfer over.{{Citation needed}} This fact has been abused by Discord with its infrastructure showing signs of decay,{{Citation needed}} the introduction of advertisements in the format of "quests",{{Citation needed}} and the degradation of free perks.{{Citation needed}}

===Software===

@@ Line 6: / Line 6: @@
 ==How it works==
-The platform decay practice is done by three stages. Initially, the companies create high-quality products or services offerings, usually by offering users a product or service at a low price (or sometimes for free). This works as an easy way to attract users and consumers and undercut the competition. Later, the offerings and the platform quality declines, usually with subtle changes, to enworse users' experience for doing a transition to prioritize business customer profits. At the end they decline the quality for both regular and business consumers, this to prioritize shareholder profits. The decay of the platforms could make the provider companies to end with an unrepairable reputation or even in bankrupcy.
+The platform decay practice is done by three stages. Initially, the companies create high-quality products or services offerings, usually by offering users a product or service at a low price (or sometimes for free). This works as an easy way to attract users and consumers and undercut the competition. Later, the offerings and the platform quality declines, usually with subtle changes, to enworse users' experience for doing a transition to prioritize business customer profits. At the end they decline the quality for both regular and business consumers, this to prioritize shareholder profits.
+Enshittification is also a common practice amongst large corporations that provide a product or service that is a monopoly. When there's no significant competence, the enshittification may last longer as users couldn't leave the platform because they're used to it or are unable to find similar alternatives that can fit their needs.
+These practices also could make the provider companies to end having an unrepairable reputation or even falling in bankrupcy in some cases.
 <blockquote>''"It is a seemingly inevitable consequence arising from the combination of the ease of changing how a platform allocates value, combined with the nature of a "two-sided market," where a platform sits between buyers and sellers, hold each hostage to the other, raking off an ever-larger share of the value that passes between them."'' <ref>{{Cite web |last=Doctorow |first=Cory |date=23 Jan 2023 |title=The ‘Enshittification’ of TikTok |url=https://www.wired.com/story/tiktok-platforms-cory-doctorow/ |url-status=live |access-date=18 Aug 2025 |website=WIRED |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260120085207/https://www.wired.com/story/tiktok-platforms-cory-doctorow/ |archive-date=20 Jan 2026}}</ref></blockquote>- Cory Doctorow ''Wired,'' 2023
 ===Stage 1 - Incentivizing Mass Adoption===
-Companies begin with offering a product or service focused on provide a high-quality experience or usage for the user, along with constantly listening to user feedback. Another common practice to attract users is also by providing a cheap or accessible price for the mayority of consumers. This leads into product or service visibility and makes easier to establish a communities and userbases.
+Companies begin with offering a product or service focused on provide a high-quality experience or usage for the user, along with constantly listening to user feedback. Another common practice to attract users is also by providing a cheap or accessible price for the mayority of consumers. They basically create something "too good" to be free or low-cost. This leads into a visible and well-known product or service that makes easy the establishment of communities and userbases.
 A documented example of this phase occurs with [[Uber]] aggressively usinginvestor capital to fund massive subsidies, paying to acquire both drivers and passengers.<ref>{{Cite web |title=How Uber Disrupted An Industry With An Explosive Approach |url=https://www.cascade.app/studies/uber-strategy-study#:~:text=Uber%20combined%20that%20initial%20campaign,rider%20sides%20faster%20and%20easier. |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251112132833/https://www.cascade.app/studies/uber-strategy-study |archive-date=12 Nov 2025}}</ref> It was initially well-received for offering competitive prices for transportation, leading to a large userbase adopting the platform.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wolff |first=Micheal |date=22 Dec 2013 |title=Wolff: The tech company of the year is Uber |url=https://eu.usatoday.com/story/money/columnist/wolff/2013/12/22/the-success-of-app-based-car-service-uber/4141669/ |url-status=live |access-date=18 Aug 2025 |website=USA TODAY |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250414222632/https://eu.usatoday.com/story/money/columnist/wolff/2013/12/22/the-success-of-app-based-car-service-uber/4141669/ |archive-date=14 Apr 2025}}</ref>
@@ Line 46: / Line 50: @@
 ==Possible solutions==
+===Legislations and movements===
+...
 ===End-to-end principal===
 ...
@@ Line 52: / Line 58: @@
 {{see also|Click-to-cancel|Interoperability}}
 The right of exit, or Data portability, is the right of a user to leave a platform without losing the data stored on it, and instead being able to export it and access it in various applications of the user's liking.<ref>{{Cite web |title=DataPortability Project |url=http://www.dataportability.org/ |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090723171111/http://www.dataportability.org/ |archive-date=23 Jul 2009 |access-date=18 Aug 2025 |website=DataPortability}}</ref>
+==Common signals==
+Products and services that are affected by enshittification usually apply these practices (that could be subtle at first) on their product or services:
+*Modifications of [[terms of service]] or [[terms of use]] to include anti-consumer practices.
+*[[Advertising overload]].
+*[[Pay-walling]] or limiting functions or features, usually ones that used to be free at first. This can also end into [[monetization overload]]. In some cases, a function or feature might be completely removed.
+*Price gouging or [[surge pricing]].
+*In physical products, usage of lower-quality or durability materials to manufacture the products, something that is usually alongside with [[planned obsolescence]].
+*In software, integration of advertisements and [[Bloatware]]. Low-quality updates and features.
+*Provider companies ignoring user feedback that involves in reverting or removing features that reduce partnership or shareholder profitting.
 ==Examples==
@@ Line 92: / Line 110: @@
 '''[[Discord]]:'''
-Discord's primary selling point is that it is the most-used method of communication, especially for communities, online.{{Citation needed}} Because of this dominance, it has caused barriers for users intending to switch to alternative platforms such as Stoat or Matrix, as a lack of common users between platforms makes it difficult for more users to transfer over.{{Citation needed}} This fact has been abused by Discord with its infrastructure showing signs of decay,{{Citation needed}} the introduction of advertisements in the format of "quests",{{Citation needed}} and the degradation of free perks.{{Citation needed}}
+Discord's primary selling point is that it is the most-used method of online communication, especially for communities.{{Citation needed}} Because of this dominance, it has caused barriers for users intending to switch to alternative platforms such as Stoat or Matrix, as a lack of common users between platforms makes it difficult for more users to transfer over.{{Citation needed}} This fact has been abused by Discord with its infrastructure showing signs of decay,{{Citation needed}} the introduction of advertisements in the format of "quests",{{Citation needed}} and the degradation of free perks.{{Citation needed}}
 ===Software===