The Enshitification of Society and the Citizen Experience
How the profit motive, which causes the enshitification of online platforms, also causes the enshitifaction of governments and our lived experience as well.
From Google:
“Enshittification” is a term coined by Cory Doctorow to describe a phenomenon where online platforms, initially user-friendly and valuable, gradually decline in quality and user experience as they prioritize profits over user satisfaction
I am thinking that this applies not just to online platforms, but to neoliberal governments and their politicians.
Just like online platforms pander to businesses, advertisers, and 3rd-party sellers, politician’s pander to corporations, the oligarchy, and big religion.
Their goal always seems to be trading the quality of life of the users (citizens) for the ability to con the users (citizens) into spending their money and votes the way those in power want them to.
The method always seems to be accompanied by a performative “improving” of the user (citizen) experience, which in fact often make the user’s (citizen’s) experience worse. These improvements are marketed with much fanfare in an obvious attempt to keep the users (citizens) from leaving (revolting).
For Republicans, the performative improvements are marketed to the “inner assholes” of the electorate. That their predation on other citizens will be both encouraged and rewarded.
For Democrats, the performative improvements are marketed to the “inner angels” of the electorate. That all predations on other citizens will be punished while at the same time providing some minimal social safety net for the marginalized among us.
But the real goal, and most importantly, how they measure success is, just like Facebook and Amazon, always focused on increased power and wealth for those at the top.