Doctrow argues that nascent tech unionization (which we’re closer to having now than ever before) combined with bipartisan fear (and consequent regulation) either directly or via agencies like the FTC and FCC can help to curb Big Tech’s power, and the enshittification that it has wrought.

  • Bilb!A
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    10 months ago

    Here’s what Kagi gave me:

    The passage discusses the concept of “enshittification” in the tech industry, where companies initially attract customers through innovation but then exploit them by increasing prices and fees. This phenomenon has occurred at companies like Facebook, Google, Uber and food delivery services. The term was coined by author Cory Doctorow to describe how these companies stop innovating and focus only on generating value for shareholders at the expense of customers. However, the passage notes that increased unionization among tech workers and more aggressive antitrust enforcement could help reverse these trends and encourage more competition in the industry. An interesting point highlighted is that while enshittification is not necessarily directly malicious, it can be a product of business environment pressures and lack of regulation that incentivize prioritizing profits over customers. This suggests policy changes may be needed to realign company incentives with serving users.