EAAS

The Great Enshittification of the Digital World
The digital world we were promised has become a shadow of its former self. What was hailed as a revolution now seems to have derailed into something far less inspiring, a trend Cory Doctorow aptly calls the "enshittification" of the digital landscape.

Let me remind you of platforms that once promised connection, information, and empowerment but have since transformed into frustrating, empty shadows of their former selves.

The Decay of Digital Platforms
Cory Doctorow argues that the enshittification of digital services is rooted in the Silicon Valley business model that has dominated for the last two decades. This model follows a predictable path:

Attraction - Offer a free service to amass a large user base.
Bullshit - Make hollow promises people want to believe.
Expansion - Exploit economies of scale to grow rapidly.
Extraction - Begin monetizing the platform aggressively, prioritizing profit over the user experience.

The process leaves behind a wake of disillusioned users frustrated by the services they once loved. Take Facebook, for instance. What began as a refreshing way to connect with friends and family has transformed into a platform plagued by privacy invasions, misinformation, and algorithmic manipulation. The genuine connections it once fostered are lost in the noise of endless ads and irrelevant content.

Similarly, e-commerce platforms that promised seamless shopping experiences have become rife with counterfeit products, convoluted return processes, and abysmal customer support. The pitfalls of rampant commercialization and decreased service quality mar the convenience that online shopping once offered.

The Data Behind the Decline
Studies show a clear shift from user-centric to profit-centric business strategies. Reports indicate that as platforms monetize heavily, user satisfaction plummets. The emphasis on ad revenue and data mining compromises privacy, leading to a widespread erosion of trust. Platforms that once empowered users now seem to exploit them.

Consider my experience with an online learning management system—I was drowning in a sea of technical glitches, outdated content, and unresponsive customer support. What was meant to be an enriching educational tool became a source of stress and frustration.

A Call for Change
We cannot overlook these changes. The digital world is far from Tim Berners-Lee's vision of a web that serves humanity. Instead, we find ourselves navigating a digital ghost mall, echoing with the sounds of bot-driven content, counterfeit goods, and cryptocurrency scams.

Cory Doctorow suggests that this degradation has been facilitated by a lack of regulation, competition, and employee power, compounded by public complacency. We must challenge these dynamics by demanding more from our digital services. Install ad-blockers, support ethical tech companies, and advocate for stronger regulations. Most importantly, let's discuss how we can collectively reclaim the digital world for the good of all.

The digital renaissance is within our grasp, but it requires a concerted effort to prioritize quality, authenticity, and user-centric values over profit. Together, we can pave the way for a digital future that truly serves humanity.

So, what about it? Any ideas?