Lever Time Enshittification Nation (With Cory Doctorow)
21 snips
Nov 25, 2025 
Cory Doctorow, an activist, journalist, and novelist, dives deep into the concept of 'enshittification,' explaining how platforms like Amazon manipulate users through a three-stage process that degrades quality and service. He reveals the adverse effects of rising fees and payola on consumer experiences and discusses the broader implications of technology's monopolistic tendencies. Doctorow also offers actionable solutions to reclaim consumer power and highlights the need for stronger regulations to protect users from corporate abuse.
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Three-Phase Platform Decay
- Platforms follow a predictable three-stage decay: woo users, lock them, then extract value from sellers and users.
- Cory Doctorow calls this process "enshittification" and shows how it turns platforms toxic for users.
Prime As A Lock-In Mechanism
- Amazon uses Prime to lock affluent shoppers and steer buying behavior onto its site.
- Cory Doctorow explains that Prime effectively pre-purchases shipping and funnels most high-value purchases to Amazon.
Ad Revenue Replaces Meritocracy
- Amazon charges sellers heavy fees and sells search placement as payola, increasing prices and hiding best deals deep in results.
- Doctorow notes advertising revenue shifted top results toward higher-priced sponsored items rather than best matches.
