# The Rise of “Enshittification”: How the Internet and Tech Are Getting Worse
## Introduction
In recent years, a troubling trend has emerged among internet users: beloved platforms, services, and technologies are becoming increasingly frustrating, intrusive, and exploitative. This issue has been aptly termed **”enshittification”** by Canadian author Cory Doctorow. This concept refers to the slow decline of online platforms as they prioritize profit over user satisfaction, often resulting in poorer services, an increase in advertisements, and heightened surveillance.
Doctorow suggests that enshittification unfolds in three phases:
1. Platforms initially offer great experiences to attract users.
2. They then cater to business customers (advertisers, sellers, etc.) in a bid to boost profits.
3. Ultimately, they exploit both users and businesses to extract maximum value before their downfall or replacement.
This article examines some of the most notable instances of enshittification in the current digital environment.
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## 1. Smart TVs: From Entertainment to Surveillance
Smart TVs were once hailed as a groundbreaking upgrade, providing internet access, streaming capabilities, and voice control. However, they have now turned into **data-collecting devices** that favor advertisements and monitoring over user experience.
– **Intrusive Advertising:** Numerous smart TVs now show ads on their home pages, even in high-end models.
– **Data Gathering:** Television makers and streaming platforms monitor viewing behaviors and sell this data to advertisers.
– **User Unfriendliness:** Some TV remotes now focus on app shortcuts at the expense of essential functions like input selection.
Consequently, many users are choosing **”dumb TVs”** or external streaming devices to reclaim their viewing experience.
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## 2. Google Assistant: A Once-Great Tool in Decline
Google Assistant was once a premier voice assistant, providing smooth integration with smart home devices and powerful search features. However, it has recently faced **feature removals, declining accuracy, and corporate oversight**.
– **Basic Commands Fail:** Users report that simple actions like setting alarms or managing smart lights often malfunction unpredictably.
– **Feature Reductions:** Google has eliminated valuable functionalities, such as third-party voice applications and reminders.
– **Focus on AI Distraction:** Google is redirecting attention toward AI chatbots, causing Assistant to stagnate.
Many users are now seeking **open-source alternatives** or turning to rivals like Amazon Alexa or Apple Siri.
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## 3. The PDF Format: From Useful to Frustrating
The **Portable Document Format (PDF)** was once a groundbreaking method for document sharing across various platforms. However, it has gradually become cumbersome, insecure, and hard to navigate.
– **Adobe’s Dominance:** Adobe Acrobat has grown increasingly pricey and cluttered with unnecessary features.
– **Security Vulnerabilities:** PDFs often serve as a common route for malware and phishing attacks.
– **Text Selection Challenges:** Many PDFs are designed in formats that make text selection and copying nearly impossible.
Some users now prefer **simpler formats like Markdown or plain text** for sharing documents.
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## 4. Televised Sports: Paywalls and Fragmentation
Watching live sports used to be simplistic: just switch on the TV and enjoy the game. Today, however, sports broadcasting has evolved into a **complex web of paywalls, subscriptions, and exclusive deals**.
– **Multiple Subscriptions Needed:** Fans are required to sign up for several services (ESPN+, Peacock, Amazon Prime, etc.) to access all their favorite games.
– **Rising Costs:** The overall expense of legally watching sports has skyrocketed.
– **Increase in Piracy:** Many fans are turning to illegal streaming options due to the complexity and expense of legitimate choices.
This fragmentation is **alienating casual viewers** and making sports less accessible.
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## 5. Google Search: From Helpful to Ad-Driven
Google Search was once the benchmark for online information retrieval. Nowadays, it is **overrun with ads, AI-generated summaries, and SEO manipulation**.
– **AI Summaries:** Google’s AI-generated search results often contain **misleading or inaccurate information**.
– **More Ads, Fewer Organic Results:** Users must sift through numerous ads before encountering genuine search results.
– **SEO Manipulation:** Many websites artificially boost search rankings with low-quality, keyword-stuffed content.
Consequently, users are **turning to alternatives like DuckDuckGo, Kagi, and even Reddit** for more trustworthy search results.
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## 6. AI in Email: Unwanted and Unhelpful
Google and Microsoft have aggressively embedded **AI features into their email platforms** like Gmail and Outlook. However, these enhancements frequently complicate rather than resolve issues.
– **Inaccurate AI Summaries:** AI-generated email summaries often misrepresent crucial details.
– **Forced Adoption**
