Why is the internet getting so sh*t? – with Ryan Broderick
Mar 14, 2024
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Tech reporter Ryan Broderick discusses the sorry state of the internet in 2024, the challenges of SEO on Google, the dystopian aspects of online shopping, and the collective yearning for innovation in the digital realm.
To improve the internet, we need to redefine our expectations of it.
Current attempts at innovation like Crypto, Metaverse, and AI are not resonating with users.
Deep dives
The Internet's Decline and Shittification
Websites and platforms are declining in user-friendliness, leading to a worsening internet landscape. Examples include Google search results dominated by spam and Google-owned content, along with Facebook and Amazon aggressively controlling online marketplaces.
Impact of Capitalism and Lack of Competition on the Internet
The internet's shift towards monopolization and decline in user experience is attributed to capitalism's natural progression towards consolidation and lack of competition. Venture capital-backed startups initially subsidized online services while competition from Chinese platforms is emerging as a counterbalance.
Trends in Website Usage and Technology Development
User behaviors and technology advancements drive the internet's evolution, with websites aiming to maximize user engagement but often resulting in addictive and unsatisfactory experiences. Older internet generations seek novelty, but developments like Web 3.0 and AI lack substantial improvements, maintaining the status quo.
The internet is getting worse. Google isn’t as helpful as it used to be, all of the best content is behind a paywall and the less said about X the better. But why is the internet getting so sh*t – and why do we simply accept it? Today in The Bunker, Jacob Jarvis speaks to tech reporter and writer of the Garbage Day substack Ryan Broderick about the sorry state of the internet in 2024.
• “The only way to get ourselves out of this enshittification trap is to rethink what we expect from the internet.” – Ryan Broderick
• “There's an urge to create something new online, but so far Crypto, the Metaverse and AI aren’t clicking with the masses.” – Ryan Broderick
Written and presented by Jacob Jarvis. Producer: Liam Tait. Audio editor: Robin Leeburn. Managing editor: Jacob Jarvis. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production.