“Enshittification” Named 2023 Word of the Year, Reflecting Growing Concerns Over Tech Platform Practices

The term “enshittification,” coined to describe the decline of online platforms as they prioritize profit over user experience, was named the 2023 Word of the Year by the American Dialect Society, signaling a widespread recognition of frustrations with major technology companies.

The word, popularized by author Cory Doctorow in a 2022 essay, encapsulates a pattern where platforms initially benefit users and suppliers, then exploit both to maximize revenue once they achieve market dominance. Recent examples include concerns over artificially inflated pricing on Amazon during sales events and changes to social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter). This trend has sparked a broader “techlash” as consumers and businesses alike feel increasingly manipulated by the digital landscape.

Doctorow, in a recent interview, traced the roots of this phenomenon back decades, noting that the potential for exploitation arises when companies gain the power to alter products and services after a purchase. “If you take away discipline from firms and allow them to do harmful things that enrich themselves without consequence, you should expect that they will do those things,” he stated. He further explained that the issue extends beyond individual platforms, impacting areas like car technology and even everyday appliances as they become increasingly computerized. The increasing digitization of products, without corresponding consumer control, is a key driver of this trend. For more on the history of digital rights, see the Electronic Frontier Foundation’s website.

The concept of “enshittification” has resonated beyond tech circles, with thinkers like Paul Krugman applying it to broader societal issues, including the erosion of democratic institutions. Doctorow’s new book, Enshittification: Why Everything Suddenly Got Worse and What to Do About It, expands on these ideas and proposes potential solutions, such as making it easier for users to switch platforms and clarifying data ownership rights. Officials are now considering state-level regulations to address some of these concerns, as seen with recent legislation in California aimed at preventing price-fixing schemes.

Doctorow emphasized the need for policies that empower users and foster competition, stating that a healthy fear of user defection is crucial for holding platforms accountable.