Everyday Anarchism

168. Enshittification -- Cory Doctorow

11 snips
Oct 8, 2025
Cory Doctorow, an influential author and tech activist, dives deep into the concept of 'enshittification'—the decline of digital platforms. He describes a three-stage decay process where platforms first gain user trust, then prioritize profit from businesses over user experience, and finally extract value until little remains. Doctorow discusses the power dynamics at play, the need for restoring competition, and how tech workers can reclaim rights. He also shares insights on using digital activism and regulatory coalitions to combat these trends.
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ANECDOTE

Dick Van Dyke Vamping At Rally

  • Cory recounts a Bernie rally where Dick Van Dyke, in his 90s, vamped and spitballed to fill time.
  • The story illustrates public figures improvising and sometimes saying things they may not fully mean.
INSIGHT

Three-Stage Platform Decay

  • Inshittification describes how platforms start user-friendly, lock users in, then degrade service to extract value from businesses and users.
  • Platforms harvest surplus while keeping just enough functionality to maintain lock-in and extract rent.
INSIGHT

Businesses Become Victims Too

  • Platforms lure business customers by breaking promises to users and monetizing surveillance and placement.
  • Advertisers and publishers also get squeezed and often fail to see returns despite paying more.
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