this post was submitted on 05 Oct 2025
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Enshittification
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What is enshittification?
The phenomenon of online platforms gradually degrading the quality of their services, often by promoting advertisements and sponsored content, in order to increase profits. (Cory Doctorow, 2022, extracted from Wikitionary) source
The lifecycle of Big Internet
We discuss how predatory big tech platforms live and die by luring people in and then decaying for profit.
Embrace, extend and extinguish
We also discuss how naturally open technologies like the Fediverse can be susceptible to corporate takeovers, rugpulls and subsequent enshittification.
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I'm a huge fan of Amazon's user experience, how well the product selection, checkout and everything works. For some people with ADHD, seniors, the impatient etc. it's particularly tempting.
As things got worse, in terms of politics and workers' rights, I checked out alternatives more. And in many cases, it was about just as convenient. Even small shops, such as buying directly from the manufacturer, often have a simple PayPal or similar checkout which is equally convenient, and it's not rare that it's cheaper. Even if they don't have that, browser support to enter the address and credit card details makes a 1-time purchase less of a hassle than it used to be.
The big national alternatives, e. g. in Germany Otto, Alternate, Thalia for books ... are more often than not pretty good too, as they had Amazon as a competitor for years and survived.
Do not ever use the built-in browser credential storage; use an exterior system. - !privacy@programming.dev
I think the jist of my reasoning is quite simple... people need to be willing to put up with a fraction more inconvenience, perhaps get used to waiting a few extra days for a delivery. I cancelled my prime almost 2yrs ago, get a lot more stuff locally, sometimes being prepared to pay a little extra because I know I'll get better quality products. I have a thing with my feet called supination (both feet roll outwards slightly) that caused me pain and injuries. After a gait analysis, I was recommended a specific type of 'rocker' style footware (good running shoes are perfect) and orthotics to go in them. it's transformed my ability to walk and reduced my pain. But those shoes aren't cheap, nor are the orthotics. I got the first pair from amazon a few years ago. I decided to get a waterproof pair for winter and extra orthotics as I should replace those every 4-6 months at least.
I found buying the running shoes direct from the maker, was no different than amazon, and found specialist online sellers of the orthotics that were 10% cheaper. I buy 2 pairs of orthotics a year and replace one pair of trainers each year... so summer ones one year, winter ones the next... and each pair does me at least 18 months... and I now subscribe to the Samuel Vimes theory of socioeconimic unfairness.
The old saying, "you can have things cheap, quality or quick, but can only pick two". is how I've adjusted my life now and you know what... it's improved it a huge amount.