How Silicon Valley enshittified the internet - Decoder with Nilay Patel Recap

Podcast: Decoder with Nilay Patel

Published: 2025-10-30

Duration: 1 hr 10 min

Summary

Corey Doctorow explains the concept of 'inshittification,' detailing how tech platforms degrade over time as they prioritize profits over user experience. He argues that this decline is tied to regulatory failures and the monopolistic power of large tech companies.

What Happened

In this episode, Sarah Jong stands in for Nilay Patel and engages with Corey Doctorow, who discusses his newly released book, 'Inshittification: Why Everything Suddenly Got Worse and What to Do About It.' Doctorow coined the term 'inshittification' to describe the gradual decay of tech platforms, illustrating how they start by providing value to users but eventually shift their focus to maximizing profits at the expense of user satisfaction. This shift occurs in stages, where platforms first lock in users before exploiting both them and their business customers.

Doctorow emphasizes that the phenomenon of inshittification is not merely a consequence of market forces but is deeply rooted in legal and regulatory frameworks that allow tech giants to exploit their market dominance. He points to a pivotal moment in 2017 when the W3C, pressured by big tech and movie studios, began incorporating digital rights management (DRM) into browsers, which stifled innovation and user rights. This crucial turning point highlights how regulatory shortcomings have contributed to the degradation of the internet experience, making it more difficult for users to engage with digital content freely and responsibly.

Key Insights

• Inshittification describes the decline of tech platforms as they prioritize business interests over user satisfaction.
• The process unfolds in stages, starting with user value and ending in exploitation of both users and businesses.
• Regulatory failures, particularly around DRM, contribute significantly to the decline of platform quality.
• Understanding inshittification requires both a technological and a legal perspective, highlighting the need for better regulations.

Key Questions Answered

What is inshittification and how did Corey Doctorow coin the term?

Inshittification is a term coined by Corey Doctorow to describe the pattern of decline in tech platforms when they focus more on profit than user experience. He initially used the term in a tweet about TripAdvisor's poor functionality, stating it had become the 'most insidified website' he had used due to excessive trackers. Doctorow explains that this term encapsulates a broader phenomenon where platforms start with a user-friendly approach but devolve into subpar experiences as they prioritize business interests.

What are the stages of inshittification?

According to Doctorow, the stages of inshittification begin with platforms providing good service to their users, which helps to lock them in. Once users are dependent on the service, platforms then begin to make things worse for their users to cater to business customers. Eventually, after locking in these business customers, the platforms exploit them as well, leading to a situation where the platform delivers minimal value while extracting maximum profit. This cycle culminates in a platform that users find increasingly frustrating and unsatisfactory.

How has regulatory pressure contributed to platform decay?

Doctorow cites a significant event in 2017 involving the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), which was pressured by major tech and entertainment companies to implement digital rights management (DRM) in browsers. This move was intended to prevent users from accessing streaming content without restrictions but had broader implications, as DRM laws can restrict lawful activities, like modifying browser functions for accessibility. This incident illustrates how regulatory frameworks can facilitate the decline of user-friendly internet experiences.

Why is the conversation around inshittification relevant today?

The discussion around inshittification is particularly relevant today as more users recognize the deterioration of their online experiences, especially with the rise of generative AI and other technologies. Doctorow emphasizes that understanding the intersection of these technologies with the concept of inshittification is crucial for users to navigate the increasingly complex landscape of digital platforms. The need for effective regulation and advocacy to counteract the monopolistic tendencies of big tech companies has never been more pressing.

What solutions does Corey Doctorow propose to combat inshittification?

While the episode does not delve deeply into specific solutions, Doctorow suggests that addressing inshittification requires a focus on regulatory reforms that can curb monopoly power. By grounding the conversation in both legal frameworks and user experiences, he advocates for changes that would empower users and prevent platforms from evolving into exploitative entities. Engaging in these discussions is essential for ensuring that technology serves the public rather than just corporate interests.