New Books in Science, Technology, and Society Cory Doctorow on Enshittification: Why Everything Suddenly Got Worse and What to Do About It
Nov 17, 2025
Cory Doctorow, a writer and activist focused on digital rights, joins danah boyd, a Cornell professor and digital media researcher, to discuss the concept of 'inshittification.' They dive into how platforms degrade over time due to monopoly power, the impact of venture capital on innovation, and the precarious nature of gig work. They also explore policy solutions for a fairer digital landscape and highlight the need for cooperative alternatives. Expect engaging insights on AI's societal risks and the future of tech labor.
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Layoffs Undermined Worker Leverage
- Tech worker scarcity once constrained harmful product decisions by employers.
- Recent mass layoffs removed that labor leverage and reduced workers' ability to resist harmful choices.
OG App Example Of Platform Control
- Teenagers built OG app to show Instagram feeds without ads and suggestions.
- Meta sent takedowns and app stores removed it overnight, killing the alternative.
A Chance For A Post‑American Internet
- Geopolitics may force a post-American internet and open industrial-policy opportunities abroad.
- A non-U.S. stack could capture huge rents and export cheaper infrastructure globally.
