The Enshitification of Big Tech: A Conversation with Cory Doctorow
Mar 13, 2025
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Cory Doctorow, a renowned author and activist known for his advocacy against monopolies, discusses the alarming trend of 'enshitification' in Big Tech. He unpacks how the initial utopian dreams of Silicon Valley transformed into profit-driven power grabs by giants like Amazon and Google. The conversation delves into the erosion of internet culture, the shift in Google's priorities from user experience to maximizing ad revenue, and the effects of monopolization on creativity in publishing. Doctorow highlights the urgent need for interoperability and competition in tech.
The podcast highlights the ideological shift in Silicon Valley from promoting utopian ideals to embracing monopolistic practices that undermine user empowerment.
Cory Doctorow's concept of 'enshitification' outlines how digital platforms decline in service quality as they prioritize profit, eventually harming both consumers and advertisers.
The discussion emphasizes the urgent need for renewed anti-monopoly efforts aimed at restoring competition, regulatory frameworks, and interoperability in the digital landscape.
Deep dives
The Changing Political Landscape of Monopoly
The discussion highlights a significant shift in how political ideologies perceive the concept of monopoly, particularly focusing on figures like Steve Jobs and movements like Occupy Wall Street. When Jobs died in 2011, his legacy was honored even by those who opposed corporate monopolies, illustrating a complex relationship between innovators and critics. This irony showcases how Silicon Valley initially promoted a utopian vision of the internet as a liberating force. However, over time, this idealism has morphed into a reality where monopolistic practices contradict the initial freedoms that tech was supposed to champion.
Liberation via Technology: Historical Perspectives
The podcast emphasizes the historical context of the internet as a revolutionary tool for social change, as seen during events like the Arab Spring. The way platforms like Facebook enabled anti-government movements across nations illustrates the power technology can wield in shaping democratic sentiments. Initially viewed as disruptors against oppressive structures, these platforms now face scrutiny for perpetuating monopolistic behaviors that hinder the very individuals they aimed to empower. This dichotomy reveals the nuanced complexities of technology's impact on societal liberation and control.
The Concept of Inshittification
Inshittification describes a three-stage decline seen in digital platforms, where initial services that attract users gradually deteriorate as monopolistic control takes hold. At the start, platforms offer high value to users to hook them, followed by a phase where that value diminishes once users are locked in, and finally deteriorating to an unacceptable state for all participants. This term encapsulates how both consumers and advertisers experience disadvantages as companies prioritize profits over user satisfaction. It highlights a broken digital ecosystem where competition once again emerges as key to restoring quality.
Understanding Monopoly and Monopsony
The podcast dives deep into the concepts of monopoly and monopsony, differentiating between powerful sellers and buyers in the marketplace. Monopoly refers to a singular seller dictating terms, while monopsony highlights a singular buyer's control over pricing and compensation, often seen in labor markets. This understanding unpacks the complexities behind how few companies can exert vast influence over prices which alters the dynamics of wages and market opportunities. Recognizing this distinction is crucial in addressing the broader implications these imbalances create in various industries.
The Future of Anti-Monopoly Movements
Cory Doctorow discusses the need for renewed anti-monopoly efforts to combat the pervasive influence of concentrated digital platforms. The emphasis is on reestablishing competition, regulatory frameworks, and interoperability to create a more equitable digital landscape. By dismantling existing legal barriers that protect monopolistic practices, opportunities for innovation and fair pricing can emerge. This transformation relies on collective action and the empowerment of users, highlighting that restoring a balanced ecosystem is not only desirable but necessary for future progress.
How did Silicon Valley's ideology go from utopian dreams to self serving power grabs? David and Matt dive into the power dynamics of Big Tech with author, activist, and anti-monopoly advocate Cory Doctorow. They explore how Silicon Valley’s early ideals of openness and innovation gave way to corporate dominance, leading to what Doctorow calls “enshitification”—the systematic decay of platforms as they prioritize profits over users. The conversation unpacks the monopolistic strategies of giants like Amazon and Google, the erosion of competition through regulatory capture, and the role of interoperability in breaking Big Tech’s grip. Check out more of Cory's writing and his new book Picks and Shovels,on his website.
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