Understanding the Rot Economy

The concept of the rot economy is introduced as a framework to understand the pervasive growth-at-all-cost mentality in the tech industry. This mindset pushes companies to engage in practices that prioritize increased profits over user experience, leading to detrimental impacts on both products and consumers. The discussion highlights how this approach drives tech companies to constantly seek more revenue, resulting in a multitude of manipulative tactics designed to keep users engaged, even if it compromises usability. As a consequence, everyday online experiences—from shopping to social media—are crafted around maximizing profit rather than addressing actual user needs.