The Cloudcast Bundling, Unbundling and Ensh*tification
Feb 4, 2024
The podcast discusses the concept of 'enshitification' and its impact on businesses and users. It explores the evolution of digital platforms, the challenges of bundling and unbundling in business, and the changing landscape of free platforms. The hosts emphasize the need for users to recognize the transient nature of free services and take control of their engagement with technology.
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How Platforms Decay Over Time
- Platforms tend to start user-first, then shift to favor business customers and finally extract value from both sides until decline.
- Corey Doctorow labels this inevitable pattern “ensh*tification” driven by two-sided market dynamics.
Free Expectations Vs. Ad-Funded Reality
- The internet’s free-service expectation came from ad-funded models and data monetization.
- Users now resist ads while expecting free features, breaking the original value exchange.
Plan To Unbundle Early
- Accept that platforms will monetize over time and plan exits or alternatives proactively.
- Unbundle when the platform’s changes no longer match your needs or control preferences.