Enshittification - Revision history

ClippyWantsToHelp: /* Common signals */

2026-03-17T04:54:27Z

Common signals

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	*In software, low-quality updates and features, with some cases involving in the usage of [[AI slop]].		*In software, low-quality updates and features, with some cases involving in the usage of [[AI slop]].
	*Provider companies ignoring user feedback that involves in reverting or removing features that reduce partnership or shareholder profitting.		*Provider companies ignoring user feedback that involves in reverting or removing features that reduce partnership or shareholder profitting.
			*Difficulties or inabilities to remove a paying method or to cancel a subscription.

	==Examples==		==Examples==

ClippyWantsToHelp: /* Common signals */

2026-03-17T04:49:10Z

Common signals

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	*Modifications of [[terms of service]] or [[terms of use]] to include anti-consumer practices.		*Modifications of [[terms of service]] or [[terms of use]] to include anti-consumer practices.
	*[[Advertising overload]].		*[[Advertising overload]] to prioritize advertiser profits and encourage users to pay to disable (or limit) visible ads.
	*[[Pay-walling]] or limiting functions or features, usually ones that used to be free at first. This can also end into [[monetization overload]]. In some cases, a function or feature might be completely removed.		*[[Pay-walling]] or limiting functions or features, usually ones that used to be free at first. This can also end into [[monetization overload]]. In some cases, a function or feature might be completely removed.
			*Integration of [[Bloatware]].
	*Price gouging or [[surge pricing]].		*Price gouging or [[surge pricing]].
	*In physical products, usage of lower-quality or durability materials to manufacture the products, ~~something that~~ is ~~usually~~ alongside with [[planned obsolescence]].		*In physical products, usage of lower-quality or durability materials to manufacture the products in order to minimize costs. In some cases, this practice is alongside with [[planned obsolescence]].
	*In software, ~~integration~~ of ~~advertisements and~~ [[~~Bloatware~~]]~~. Low-quality updates and features~~.		*In software, low-quality updates and features, with some cases involving in the usage of [[AI slop]].
	*Provider companies ignoring user feedback that involves in reverting or removing features that reduce partnership or shareholder profitting.		*Provider companies ignoring user feedback that involves in reverting or removing features that reduce partnership or shareholder profitting.


	==Examples==		==Examples==

ClippyWantsToHelp: /* How it works */

2026-03-17T04:38:07Z

How it works

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	==How it works==		==How it works==
	The platform decay practice is done by three stages. Initially, the companies create high-quality products or services offerings, usually by offering users a product or service at a low price (or sometimes for free). This works as an easy way to attract users and consumers and undercut the competition. Later, the offerings and the platform quality declines, usually with subtle changes, to enworse users' experience for doing a transition to prioritize business customer profits. At the end they decline the quality for both regular and business consumers, this to prioritize shareholder profits.		The platform decay practice is done on three stages. Initially, the companies create high-quality products or services offerings, usually by offering users a product or service at a low price (or sometimes for free). This works as an easy way to attract users and consumers and undercut the competition. Later, the offerings and the platform quality declines, usually with subtle changes, to enworse users' experience for doing a transition to prioritize business customer profits. At the end they decline the quality for both regular and business consumers, this to prioritize shareholder profits.

	Enshittification is also a common practice amongst large corporations that provide a product or service that is a monopoly. When there's no significant competence, the enshittification may last longer as users couldn't leave the platform because they're used to it or are unable to find similar alternatives that can fit their needs.		Enshittification is also a common practice amongst large corporations that provide a product or service that is a monopoly. When there's no significant competence, the enshittification may last longer as users couldn't leave the platform because they're used to it or are unable to find similar alternatives that can fit their needs.

ClippyWantsToHelp: expanded a bit of the rest of the article and added a "Common signals" section

2026-03-17T04:37:36Z

expanded a bit of the rest of the article and added a "Common signals" section

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:37, 17 March 2026
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	==How it works==		==How it works==
	The platform decay practice is done by three stages. Initially, the companies create high-quality products or services offerings, usually by offering users a product or service at a low price (or sometimes for free). This works as an easy way to attract users and consumers and undercut the competition. Later, the offerings and the platform quality declines, usually with subtle changes, to enworse users' experience for doing a transition to prioritize business customer profits. At the end they decline the quality for both regular and business consumers, this to prioritize shareholder profits. ~~The decay of~~ the ~~platforms~~ could make the provider companies to end ~~with~~ an unrepairable reputation or even in bankrupcy.		The platform decay practice is done by three stages. Initially, the companies create high-quality products or services offerings, usually by offering users a product or service at a low price (or sometimes for free). This works as an easy way to attract users and consumers and undercut the competition. Later, the offerings and the platform quality declines, usually with subtle changes, to enworse users' experience for doing a transition to prioritize business customer profits. At the end they decline the quality for both regular and business consumers, this to prioritize shareholder profits.

			Enshittification is also a common practice amongst large corporations that provide a product or service that is a monopoly. When there's no significant competence, the enshittification may last longer as users couldn't leave the platform because they're used to it or are unable to find similar alternatives that can fit their needs.

			These practices also could make the provider companies to end having an unrepairable reputation or even falling in bankrupcy in some cases.

	<blockquote>''"It is a seemingly inevitable consequence arising from the combination of the ease of changing how a platform allocates value, combined with the nature of a "two-sided market," where a platform sits between buyers and sellers, hold each hostage to the other, raking off an ever-larger share of the value that passes between them."'' <ref>{{Cite web \|last=Doctorow \|first=Cory \|date=23 Jan 2023 \|title=The ‘Enshittification’ of TikTok \|url=https://www.wired.com/story/tiktok-platforms-cory-doctorow/ \|url-status=live \|access-date=18 Aug 2025 \|website=WIRED \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260120085207/https://www.wired.com/story/tiktok-platforms-cory-doctorow/ \|archive-date=20 Jan 2026}}</ref></blockquote>- Cory Doctorow ''Wired,'' 2023		<blockquote>''"It is a seemingly inevitable consequence arising from the combination of the ease of changing how a platform allocates value, combined with the nature of a "two-sided market," where a platform sits between buyers and sellers, hold each hostage to the other, raking off an ever-larger share of the value that passes between them."'' <ref>{{Cite web \|last=Doctorow \|first=Cory \|date=23 Jan 2023 \|title=The ‘Enshittification’ of TikTok \|url=https://www.wired.com/story/tiktok-platforms-cory-doctorow/ \|url-status=live \|access-date=18 Aug 2025 \|website=WIRED \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260120085207/https://www.wired.com/story/tiktok-platforms-cory-doctorow/ \|archive-date=20 Jan 2026}}</ref></blockquote>- Cory Doctorow ''Wired,'' 2023

	===Stage 1 - Incentivizing Mass Adoption===		===Stage 1 - Incentivizing Mass Adoption===
	Companies begin with offering a product or service focused on provide a high-quality experience or usage for the user, along with constantly listening to user feedback. Another common practice to attract users is also by providing a cheap or accessible price for the mayority of consumers. This leads into product or service ~~visibility and~~ makes ~~easier to establish a~~ communities and userbases.		Companies begin with offering a product or service focused on provide a high-quality experience or usage for the user, along with constantly listening to user feedback. Another common practice to attract users is also by providing a cheap or accessible price for the mayority of consumers. They basically create something "too good" to be free or low-cost. This leads into a visible and well-known product or service that makes easy the establishment of communities and userbases.

	A documented example of this phase occurs with [[Uber]] aggressively usinginvestor capital to fund massive subsidies, paying to acquire both drivers and passengers.<ref>{{Cite web \|title=How Uber Disrupted An Industry With An Explosive Approach \|url=https://www.cascade.app/studies/uber-strategy-study#:~:text=Uber%20combined%20that%20initial%20campaign,rider%20sides%20faster%20and%20easier. \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251112132833/https://www.cascade.app/studies/uber-strategy-study \|archive-date=12 Nov 2025}}</ref> It was initially well-received for offering competitive prices for transportation, leading to a large userbase adopting the platform.<ref>{{Cite web \|last=Wolff \|first=Micheal \|date=22 Dec 2013 \|title=Wolff: The tech company of the year is Uber \|url=https://eu.usatoday.com/story/money/columnist/wolff/2013/12/22/the-success-of-app-based-car-service-uber/4141669/ \|url-status=live \|access-date=18 Aug 2025 \|website=USA TODAY \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250414222632/https://eu.usatoday.com/story/money/columnist/wolff/2013/12/22/the-success-of-app-based-car-service-uber/4141669/ \|archive-date=14 Apr 2025}}</ref>		A documented example of this phase occurs with [[Uber]] aggressively usinginvestor capital to fund massive subsidies, paying to acquire both drivers and passengers.<ref>{{Cite web \|title=How Uber Disrupted An Industry With An Explosive Approach \|url=https://www.cascade.app/studies/uber-strategy-study#:~:text=Uber%20combined%20that%20initial%20campaign,rider%20sides%20faster%20and%20easier. \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251112132833/https://www.cascade.app/studies/uber-strategy-study \|archive-date=12 Nov 2025}}</ref> It was initially well-received for offering competitive prices for transportation, leading to a large userbase adopting the platform.<ref>{{Cite web \|last=Wolff \|first=Micheal \|date=22 Dec 2013 \|title=Wolff: The tech company of the year is Uber \|url=https://eu.usatoday.com/story/money/columnist/wolff/2013/12/22/the-success-of-app-based-car-service-uber/4141669/ \|url-status=live \|access-date=18 Aug 2025 \|website=USA TODAY \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250414222632/https://eu.usatoday.com/story/money/columnist/wolff/2013/12/22/the-success-of-app-based-car-service-uber/4141669/ \|archive-date=14 Apr 2025}}</ref>
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	==Possible solutions==		==Possible solutions==

			===Legislations and movements===
			...
	===End-to-end principal===		===End-to-end principal===
	...		...
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	{{see also\|Click-to-cancel\|Interoperability}}		{{see also\|Click-to-cancel\|Interoperability}}
	The right of exit, or Data portability, is the right of a user to leave a platform without losing the data stored on it, and instead being able to export it and access it in various applications of the user's liking.<ref>{{Cite web \|title=DataPortability Project \|url=http://www.dataportability.org/ \|url-status=unfit \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090723171111/http://www.dataportability.org/ \|archive-date=23 Jul 2009 \|access-date=18 Aug 2025 \|website=DataPortability}}</ref>		The right of exit, or Data portability, is the right of a user to leave a platform without losing the data stored on it, and instead being able to export it and access it in various applications of the user's liking.<ref>{{Cite web \|title=DataPortability Project \|url=http://www.dataportability.org/ \|url-status=unfit \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090723171111/http://www.dataportability.org/ \|archive-date=23 Jul 2009 \|access-date=18 Aug 2025 \|website=DataPortability}}</ref>

			==Common signals==
			Products and services that are affected by enshittification usually apply these practices (that could be subtle at first) on their product or services:

			*Modifications of [[terms of service]] or [[terms of use]] to include anti-consumer practices.
			*[[Advertising overload]].
			*[[Pay-walling]] or limiting functions or features, usually ones that used to be free at first. This can also end into [[monetization overload]]. In some cases, a function or feature might be completely removed.
			*Price gouging or [[surge pricing]].
			*In physical products, usage of lower-quality or durability materials to manufacture the products, something that is usually alongside with [[planned obsolescence]].
			*In software, integration of advertisements and [[Bloatware]]. Low-quality updates and features.
			*Provider companies ignoring user feedback that involves in reverting or removing features that reduce partnership or shareholder profitting.


	==Examples==		==Examples==
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	'''[[Discord]]:'''		'''[[Discord]]:'''

	Discord's primary selling point is that it is the most-used method of communication, especially for communities~~, online~~.{{Citation needed}} Because of this dominance, it has caused barriers for users intending to switch to alternative platforms such as Stoat or Matrix, as a lack of common users between platforms makes it difficult for more users to transfer over.{{Citation needed}} This fact has been abused by Discord with its infrastructure showing signs of decay,{{Citation needed}} the introduction of advertisements in the format of "quests",{{Citation needed}} and the degradation of free perks.{{Citation needed}}		Discord's primary selling point is that it is the most-used method of online communication, especially for communities.{{Citation needed}} Because of this dominance, it has caused barriers for users intending to switch to alternative platforms such as Stoat or Matrix, as a lack of common users between platforms makes it difficult for more users to transfer over.{{Citation needed}} This fact has been abused by Discord with its infrastructure showing signs of decay,{{Citation needed}} the introduction of advertisements in the format of "quests",{{Citation needed}} and the degradation of free perks.{{Citation needed}}

	===Software===		===Software===

ClippyWantsToHelp at 03:51, 17 March 2026

2026-03-17T03:51:45Z

Show changes

Rudxain: add JaidenAnimations video to Ext-links

2026-03-17T03:45:21Z

add JaidenAnimations video to Ext-links

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	[https://youtu.be/T4Upf_B9RLQ "A Day in the Life of an Enshttificator"], by [https://www.youtube.com/@Forbrukerr%C3%A5detNorge Forbrukerrådet - Norwegian Consumer Council], 2026		[https://youtu.be/T4Upf_B9RLQ "A Day in the Life of an Enshttificator"], by [https://www.youtube.com/@Forbrukerr%C3%A5detNorge Forbrukerrådet - Norwegian Consumer Council], 2026
			*[https://youtu.be/NBZv0_MImIY "Y'all mind if I complain for 15 minutes?"], by [[wikipedia:Jaiden_Animations\|Jaiden Dittfach]], 2025. In this video, she talks about how things have "become less efficient" and "more stupid".
	*[https://eev.ee/blog/2025/07/03/the-rise-of-whatever/ "The rise of Whatever"]		*[https://eev.ee/blog/2025/07/03/the-rise-of-whatever/ "The rise of Whatever"]
	*[https://gavinhoward.com/2023/11/your-loved-ones-are-prisoners-and-you-made-the-chain "Digital chains and modern feudalism"]		*[https://gavinhoward.com/2023/11/your-loved-ones-are-prisoners-and-you-made-the-chain "Digital chains and modern feudalism"]

Rudxain: actually, year is redundant, because both URLs have it

2026-03-17T02:12:52Z

actually, year is redundant, because both URLs have it

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:12, 17 March 2026
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	[https://youtu.be/T4Upf_B9RLQ "A Day in the Life of an Enshttificator"], by [https://www.youtube.com/@Forbrukerr%C3%A5detNorge Forbrukerrådet - Norwegian Consumer Council], 2026		[https://youtu.be/T4Upf_B9RLQ "A Day in the Life of an Enshttificator"], by [https://www.youtube.com/@Forbrukerr%C3%A5detNorge Forbrukerrådet - Norwegian Consumer Council], 2026
	*[https://eev.ee/blog/2025/07/03/the-rise-of-whatever/ "The rise of Whatever"]~~, 2025~~		*[https://eev.ee/blog/2025/07/03/the-rise-of-whatever/ "The rise of Whatever"]
	*[https://gavinhoward.com/2023/11/your-loved-ones-are-prisoners-and-you-made-the-chain "Digital chains and modern feudalism"]~~, 2023~~		*[https://gavinhoward.com/2023/11/your-loved-ones-are-prisoners-and-you-made-the-chain "Digital chains and modern feudalism"]

	==References==		==References==

Rudxain: add "rise of whatever" to ext links; add year to Gavin Howard post

2026-03-17T02:11:30Z

add "rise of whatever" to ext links; add year to Gavin Howard post

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:11, 17 March 2026
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	[https://youtu.be/T4Upf_B9RLQ "A Day in the Life of an Enshttificator"], by [https://www.youtube.com/@Forbrukerr%C3%A5detNorge Forbrukerrådet - Norwegian Consumer Council], 2026		[https://youtu.be/T4Upf_B9RLQ "A Day in the Life of an Enshttificator"], by [https://www.youtube.com/@Forbrukerr%C3%A5detNorge Forbrukerrådet - Norwegian Consumer Council], 2026
	*[https://gavinhoward.com/2023/11/your-loved-ones-are-prisoners-and-you-made-the-chain "Digital chains and modern feudalism"]		*[https://eev.ee/blog/2025/07/03/the-rise-of-whatever/ "The rise of Whatever"], 2025
			*[https://gavinhoward.com/2023/11/your-loved-ones-are-prisoners-and-you-made-the-chain "Digital chains and modern feudalism"], 2023

	==References==		==References==

Rudxain: Category:Theme

2026-03-17T02:07:37Z

Category:Theme

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:07, 17 March 2026
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	[[Category:Common terms]]		[[Category:Common terms]]
			[[Category:Theme]]

Rudxain: link: forced acc, DRM, dark-pat

2026-03-17T02:01:27Z

link: forced acc, DRM, dark-pat

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:01, 17 March 2026
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	*Loss of access to files after subscription ends.		*Loss of access to files after subscription ends.
	Many Adobe file formats (PSD, AI, INDD, AE project files) are proprietary and poorly supported by third-party software. When a subscription ends, users become unable to open, export, or meaningfully edit their own historical work, effectively holding user-created content hostage to enforce continued payment.		Many Adobe file formats (PSD, AI, INDD, AE project files) are proprietary and poorly supported by third-party software. When a subscription ends, users become unable to open, export, or meaningfully edit their own historical work, effectively holding user-created content hostage to enforce continued payment.
	*Mandatory Creative Cloud account and DRM for offline tools.		*Mandatory Creative Cloud account (see [[Forced account]]) and [[Digital rights management\|DRM]] for offline tools.
	Applications that run locally require frequent online authentication through the Creative Cloud desktop app. Forced sign-ins, background services, and periodic license checks can disable software unexpectedly, undermining reliability and making professional tools dependent on Adobe’s servers.		Applications that run locally require frequent online authentication through the Creative Cloud desktop app. Forced sign-ins, background services, and periodic license checks can disable software unexpectedly, undermining reliability and making professional tools dependent on Adobe’s servers.
	*Dark patterns in subscription cancellation and pricing.		*[[Dark pattern\|Dark patterns]] in subscription cancellation and pricing.
	Adobe’s subscription plans use confusing billing structures (such as “annual plans billed monthly”) that impose early termination fees. Cancellation flows are deliberately complex, with obscured options and repeated retention prompts, resulting in users paying longer than intended or being penalized for leaving.		Adobe’s subscription plans use confusing billing structures (such as “annual plans billed monthly”) that impose early termination fees. Cancellation flows are deliberately complex, with obscured options and repeated retention prompts, resulting in users paying longer than intended or being penalized for leaving.