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'''Enshittification''', also known as '''crapification''' and '''platform decay''', is a pattern in which two-sided online products and services decline in quality over time. Initially, companies create high-quality offerings to attract users and undercut competition, then they degrade those offerings to better serve business customers, and finally degrade their services to users, business customers and workers to maximize profits for shareholders.
'''Enshittification''', also known as '''crapification''' and '''platform decay''', is a pattern in which two-sided online products and services decline in quality over time. Initially, companies create high-quality offerings to attract users and undercut competition, then they degrade those offerings to better serve business customers, and finally degrade their services to users, business customers and workers to maximize profits for shareholders.


The term was first coined by tech blogger Cory Doctorow in November 2022<ref>{{Cite web |last=Doctorow |first=Cory |date=28 Nov 2022 |title=Pluralistic: How monopoly enshittified Amazon/28 Nov 2022 |url=https://pluralistic.net/2022/11/28/enshittification/ |url-status=live |access-date=18 Aug 2025 |website=Pluralistic}}</ref>, popularized by Arun Maini (Mrwhosetheboss)<ref>[https://www.uniladtech.com/news/tech-news/mrwhosetheboss-explains-google-search-broken-715030-20241030 Popular tech YouTuber exposes why 'broken' Google Search is falling apart]</ref><ref>The Internet is starting to Break - Here's Why. - Mrwhosetheboss</ref><ref>Why Google Search is Falling Apart. - Mrwhosetheboss</ref>, and has since gained widespread recognition.<ref>{{Cite web |title=enshittification |url=https://www.merriam-webster.com/slang/enshittification |url-status=live |access-date=18 Aug 2025 |website=Merriam-Webster}}</ref>
The term was first coined by tech blogger [[Cory Doctorow]] in November 2022<ref>{{Cite web |last=Doctorow |first=Cory |date=28 Nov 2022 |title=Pluralistic: How monopoly enshittified Amazon/28 Nov 2022 |url=https://pluralistic.net/2022/11/28/enshittification/ |url-status=live |access-date=18 Aug 2025 |website=Pluralistic}}</ref>, popularized by Arun Maini (Mrwhosetheboss)<ref>[https://www.uniladtech.com/news/tech-news/mrwhosetheboss-explains-google-search-broken-715030-20241030 Popular tech YouTuber exposes why 'broken' Google Search is falling apart]</ref><ref>The Internet is starting to Break - Here's Why. - Mrwhosetheboss</ref><ref>Why Google Search is Falling Apart. - Mrwhosetheboss</ref>, and has since gained widespread recognition.<ref>{{Cite web |title=enshittification |url=https://www.merriam-webster.com/slang/enshittification |url-status=live |access-date=18 Aug 2025 |website=Merriam-Webster}}</ref>


==How it works==
==How it works==
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Companies offer their product or service to users with great incentive to try and build an established userbase. It is usually during the early stage of the company is the most focused on providing a positive user experience and listening to feedback.
Companies offer their product or service to users with great incentive to try and build an established userbase. It is usually during the early stage of the company is the most focused on providing a positive user experience and listening to feedback.


For example, [[Uber]] 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}}</ref>  
For example, [[Uber]] aggressively used investor 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.}}</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}}</ref>  


===Stage 2 - Catering to Business Clients===
===Stage 2 - Catering to Business Clients===
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'''[[Microsoft Windows]]:'''
'''[[Microsoft Windows]]:'''


*Forced Microsoft account sign-in.  
*Forced Microsoft account sign-in.
Beginning with Windows 10 and further enforced in Windows 11, Microsoft increasingly requires users to sign in with a Microsoft account during setup. This restricts offline use, obscures the option to create a local account, and facilitates expanded telemetry collection and ecosystem lock-in.
Beginning with Windows 10 and further enforced in Windows 11, Microsoft increasingly requires users to sign in with a Microsoft account during setup. This restricts offline use, obscures the option to create a local account, and facilitates expanded telemetry collection and ecosystem lock-in.
*Built-in advertising in a paid operating system.  
*Built-in advertising in a paid operating system.
Despite being a commercial software, Windows includes advertisements and promotional content in the Start Menu, lock screen, system notifications, and settings panels, used to promote Microsoft 365, OneDrive, Edge, and other services and other proprietary software. Even when users disable these features, they are frequently re-enabled after major updates.
Despite being a commercial software, Windows includes advertisements and promotional content in the Start Menu, lock screen, system notifications, and settings panels, used to promote Microsoft 365, OneDrive, Edge, and other services and other proprietary software. Even when users disable these features, they are frequently re-enabled after major updates.
*Dark patterns in bundled applications.  
*Dark patterns in bundled applications.
Microsoft applications repeatedly nudge users toward Microsoft-preferred choices. Edge persistently prompts users to become the default browser and displays warnings when switching away. OneDrive frames cloud uploads as “protecting your files,” obscuring the fact that local folders are being redirected to Microsoft’s servers. Subscription prompts often lack a clear “Never ask again” option, offering only choices such as “Try for free” or “Maybe later” as in Microsoft365.
Microsoft applications repeatedly nudge users toward Microsoft-preferred choices. Edge persistently prompts users to become the default browser and displays warnings when switching away. OneDrive frames cloud uploads as “protecting your files,” obscuring the fact that local folders are being redirected to Microsoft’s servers. Subscription prompts often lack a clear “Never ask again” option, offering only choices such as “Try for free” or “Maybe later” as in Microsoft365.
*Increased unavoidable telemetry.  
*Increased unavoidable telemetry.
Telemetry and diagnostic data collection are enabled by default, with only limited controls available to disable or reduce them—particularly in non-Enterprise editions. Some data collection is mandatory and vaguely documented, undermining informed consent.
Telemetry and diagnostic data collection are enabled by default, with only limited controls available to disable or reduce them—particularly in non-Enterprise editions. Some data collection is mandatory and vaguely documented, undermining informed consent.
*Loss of user control over updates.  
*Loss of user control over updates.
Windows updates cannot be permanently disabled through standard settings. Users can only defer updates for a limited period (up to four weeks), after which downloads and installations are often forced, sometimes causing unexpected restarts or re-enabling previously disabled features without user consent.
Windows updates cannot be permanently disabled through standard settings. Users can only defer updates for a limited period (up to four weeks), after which downloads and installations are often forced, sometimes causing unexpected restarts or re-enabling previously disabled features without user consent.
*Bundled software bloat.  
*Bundled software bloat.
Windows ships with numerous preinstalled Microsoft applications that are not essential to core OS functionality. These apps are installed without explicit user consent and may reappear after major updates even if previously removed.
Windows ships with numerous preinstalled Microsoft applications that are not essential to core OS functionality. These apps are installed without explicit user consent and may reappear after major updates even if previously removed.
*Degraded local search in favor of web search.  
*Degraded local search in favor of web search.
The start menu and file search experience has progressively gotten worse, blending local results with Bing web searches. This often prioritizes online content and advertisements over fast, predictable local file and application discovery, reducing usability in order to promote Microsoft’s search and advertising ecosystem.
The start menu and file search experience has progressively gotten worse, blending local results with Bing web searches. This often prioritizes online content and advertisements over fast, predictable local file and application discovery, reducing usability in order to promote Microsoft’s search and advertising ecosystem.


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Unity Software Inc. implemented sweeping changes to its pricing model for Unity that would affect all users of the engine, forcing users to either adopt their per-download fee or de-list their games.
Unity Software Inc. implemented sweeping changes to its pricing model for Unity that would affect all users of the engine, forcing users to either adopt their per-download fee or de-list their games.


'''Mobile Games:'''A lot of mobile games have fell into enshittifed experiences. A lot of mobile games were paid in the early days of the [[Apple App Store]], but then became [[Free to Play]] with users being bombarded with ads, [[Microtransactions|micro-transactions]], [[Battle passes|battle-passes]], energy-systems and more, to extract as much money out of the player's pocket, while making the experience less fun. The video game Angry-Brid is a good example of this. What started as a very simple game now has all of the aforementioned tactics baked into it, rendering the playing experience tedious and unpleasant.
'''Mobile Games:'''A lot of mobile games have fell into enshittifed experiences. A lot of mobile games were paid in the early days of the [[Apple App Store]], but then became [[Free to Play]] with users being bombarded with ads, [[Microtransactions|micro-transactions]], [[Battle passes|battle-passes]], energy-systems and more, to extract as much money out of the player's pocket, while making the experience less fun. The video game Angry-Birds is a good example of this. What started as a very simple game now has all of the aforementioned tactics baked into it, rendering the playing experience tedious and unpleasant.


===Learning Applications===
===Learning Applications===
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{{See also|Network effects}}


==Further reading==
==Further reading==
Retrieved from "https://consumerrights.wiki/w/Enshittification"