Future Knowledge The Internet Con
10 snips
Jul 2, 2025 
Cory Doctorow, a science fiction author and activist, dives into his latest work, The Internet Con, advocating for user empowerment against Big Tech's grip. He discusses the toxic cycle of 'inshittification' that erodes platform quality and freedom. Doctorow emphasizes the pressing necessity of antitrust reforms, particularly in light of Google’s reliance on acquisitions. He argues for collective action over individualism to tackle systemic challenges, including monopoly capitalism. It's a call to reshape the digital landscape for all users.
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Platforms Keep Users Locked In
- Platforms deliberately lock users in by making it costly and painful to leave and abandon their social graphs.
- This design fosters user retention by exploiting collective action problems and social dependencies.
Platform Decay: The Shittification Cycle
- Platforms extract value in stages: initially benefiting users, then siphoning off value to advertisers and publishers, finally leaving minimal value to users.
- This decay process, termed 'shittification,' traps and exploits all participants over time.
High Switching Costs Trap Users
- Disentangling from dominant platforms is difficult due to high switching costs and infrastructural dependencies.
- Lack of viable alternatives forces users into harmful or exploitative arrangements despite dissatisfaction.
