Peoples & Things Cory Doctorow on Enshittification: Why Everything Suddenly Got Worse and What to Do About It
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Nov 17, 2025 
In this lively discussion, Cory Doctorow, a passionate writer and digital-rights advocate, joins danah boyd, a renowned researcher at Cornell, to delve into the concept of 'enshittification'—the phenomenon of digital platforms becoming worse over time. They explore how financialization and monopolies contribute to this decline, the impact of tech worker incentives, and viable alternatives like worker cooperatives. The conversation also touches on the alarming potential of generative AI and the shifting perceptions of tech careers among students. It's a thought-provoking exploration of our digital landscape!
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Labor Scarcity Once Checked Bad Choices
- Tech worker scarcity once constrained destructive choices but mass layoffs removed that counterbalance.
- Loss of labor leverage made it easier for firms to pursue enshittifying tactics.
Napster Wars Lessons
- Early 2000s tech firms lost to entertainment incumbents who pooled power and capital.
- Doctorow links that history to why policymakers later favored concentrated tech-like firms.
OG App's Rapid Takedown
- Meta swiftly used platform power to remove a teen-made Instagram client, ending the app's rise.
- Doctorow cites OG app as a concrete case where platform control blocked user-friendly competition.
