The term “enshittified” is a slang term that describes a process by which something (usually a platform, service, or product) becomes progressively worse due to exploitative practices, often prioritizing profits over user experience or community value. The term gained popularity through critiques of modern digital platforms, especially in the context of monopolistic behavior or the degradation of once-useful or beloved services.
Examples in Sentence Form:
- Social Media Platform:
“Facebook has become so enshittified that users are bombarded with irrelevant ads and posts from pages they never followed, making it nearly unusable.” - Streaming Services:
“Netflix started out as a great deal, but now it’s enshittified with constant price hikes, password-sharing bans, and a shrinking library of good content.” - Online Marketplaces:
“Etsy used to be a haven for independent artists, but its enshittification has driven sellers away with steep fees and a flood of mass-produced junk.”
The word encapsulates frustrations with the way once-beneficial platforms often degrade as their business models evolve to extract maximum value from users, creators, or both.