Future Tense Cory Doctorow: Platform capitalism and the curse of "enshittification"
Oct 29, 2023
Cory Doctorow, Canadian sci-fi author and digital rights activist, discusses the concept of 'enshittification' in platform capitalism. He explores how platforms like Amazon, Facebook, and Uber exploit users and create barriers to exit. Doctorow highlights the need for regulation, breaking up monopolies, and empowering users. He also discusses the impact of cheap capital on platform growth and the urgent need to reclaim power in the digital world.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Enshittification
- Enshittification describes the decay of platforms, where businesses initially attract users with good deals and then exploit them.
- Platforms lock in users and then progressively degrade the user experience to maximize profits for shareholders.
Platform Lock-in
- Amazon uses Prime and DRM to lock in customers, making it difficult to leave without losing access to purchased content.
- Similarly, Apple and social media platforms create ecosystems that discourage users from switching.
Data Trapping
- Facebook strategically designed features to make data entry easy but retrieval difficult, trapping users.
- This tactic ensures that businesses also remain captive, as they need to follow their user base.