# enshitification ## Summary Enshitification describes the process by which digital platforms, initially optimized for users, gradually degrade as they prioritize monetization and control. ## Definition Why do digital platforms degrade over time? What are the trade-offs of scale and monetization? Coined by Cory Doctorow, *enshitification* is the life-cycle degradation of online platforms. It unfolds in three phases: first, the platform is good to users to gain adoption; then, it exploits users to benefit business customers (e.g., advertisers); finally, it extracts value from both users and businesses for its own gain. This often leads to a loss of utility, trust, and eventually relevance. ## Properties - Follows a predictable arc driven by growth, optimization, and capture. - Often correlated with closed ecosystems, algorithmic opacity, and increasing ad pressure. - Emerges from strategic decisions that favor short-term revenue over long-term utility. ## Related Ideas - Platform decay - The Tragedy of the Commons - Surveillance capitalism - The innovator’s dilemma