There’s an article going around but it’s mostly useless because it’s insufficiently naming specific examples.
YouTube = unskipable ads YouTube = ads longer than the content YouTube = ads during pause YouTube = constantly decreasing revenue share with creators despite more ads
Found a brand new one.
- Google Image Search removing the ability to go directly to the raw image after Getty complained that web users are bypassing its website and therefore not generating traffic
- Facebook removing chronological feed
- Facebook showing you pages that you never followed on your home feed without the ability to turn this off
- Microsoft trying to introduce ads to Explorer and the start menu
- Microsoft making it difficult to create a local Windows account by making the process unintuitive, leading the user to believe that a Microsoft account is needed to use Windows
- Apple dropping support for iOS web apps because it doesn’t want to support browsers other than Safari
- Reddit and Twitter’s ban of third-party API use that killed nearly all third-party clients
- EA producing games that require users to be always online, despite the game being single-player, presumably as a DRM measure
- Ad companies making it easy for you to give consent to data sharing and selling but really difficult for you to opt-out
Edit: More examples
- Google Chrome phasing out ad-blocker support (Manifest V2) under the guise of “improving security,” forcing users to endure more ads.
- YouTube removing the “Dislike” count on videos, reducing transparency about content quality and user sentiment.
- Google Search prioritizing SEO-spam sites and paid ads over relevant organic results, making it harder to find genuine information.
- HP and Epson using DRM in printers to block third-party ink cartridges, forcing users to buy overpriced proprietary ink.
- Instagram deprioritizing photo posts in favor of Reels, flooding feeds with algorithmically pushed content instead of updates from followed accounts.
- LinkedIn enabling spammy “growth hacks” (e.g., vague AI-generated posts, connection request floods) that clutter users’ feeds and messages.
- Nintendo shutting down online servers for older consoles (e.g., Wii U, 3DS), rendering purchased games partially or fully unusable.
- Netflix aggressively cracking down on password sharing while raising subscription prices, forcing users to pay extra for previously permitted account sharing.
- Adobe eliminating one-time purchases for Creative Cloud software, locking users into costly subscriptions indefinitely.
- Apple throttling performance of older iPhones via iOS updates (initially without transparency), seen as coercing upgrades.
- Apple removing the headphone jack from iPhones, pushing users to buy expensive AirPods or dongles.
I don’t think the Getty things is enshitification. It seems more like a regulatory issue
I’d also agree that it’s not unreasonable for Nintendo to shutter the online features of the 3DS and the Wii U. Time marches on.
I’m with you on this. If Google didn’t change it then they were risking lawsuits. Big difference between milking customers for more with less vs caving to avoid lose.
It’s an example of one company coercing another to enshittify for revenue. Getty also gets the blame here.
At this point it’s easier to list things that aren’t being “enshittified”.
The easiest ways for a corporation to increase profits in the short term is to increase prices, cut staff, reduce quality control, sell ad space or a combination of those. All of these result in inferior products.
The problem with that is the list becomes outdated as more and more companies embrace the process. Specific examples are what we need.
It isn’t really a choice, so much as it is a necessity within Capitalism as competition forces Rates of Profit down ovrr time. Putting individual companies on blast for it won’t fix the problem itself.
The clothes industry in general is getting lower in quality and durability for the same or greater prices.
The “in general” part of your statement is doing a lot of work here. It’s a bit more complicated.
It’s absolutely true that many manufacturers are using cheaper materials and near-slave wage labor to make clothing. Industry, in general, has changed dramatically in the past 10-15 years as we’re seeing a flood of low cost garment makers who can ship direct to consumers at a fraction of what we’re used to paying for clothes. There’s a substantial portion of the industry (Shein, et al) that’s putting out ultra trendy clothing for tens of dollars.
There’s also still good quality brands out there but their stuff costs more than the cheap(ly made) stuff. Most consumers don’t see or understand the value in spending more today for something that will last more than five years. Especially in regard to fashion; trends and styles change so why would you want to wear something more than five years. Also, a lot of people do not know how to properly care for their clothing.
Consumers have greatly benefitted from certain international trade regulations at the expense of quality materials and craftsmanship and unfair wages. Speaking on behalf of Americans, the costs of our goods would be noticeably higher without the legislation passed during the Reagan and Clinton administrations. You could also argue we’d be able to afford it if the jobs remained in this country and we were being paid fair wages.
I’d argue that WAGES are what have been enshittified more than anything else. People are making less money today than they did 30 years ago.
For reference, I looked up Levis 501 Jeans from 1996 and today.
1996 - $37.99 | 2025 - $79.50If I run this through the inflation calculator, $38 in 1996 is worth $75.97 today.
Now, if you convert $50k, that should equal $100k today. I have my doubts that a job that paid $50k in 1996 is paying $100k today. I’m not sure about my math / source but it appears to me that the median hourly wage in 1996 was $18.94 and in 2024 $24.75. Adjusted for inflation, it should be $37.99 today.
To be clear, I’m a Communist, I am aware of the background behind US Imperialism and the decline in purchasing power over time. Rather, those are some of the core critiques Marxist-Leninists have with Capitalism. I am more pointing to that clothing, now, has been forced to be made cheaper to keep up with the decline in wages. Enshittification isn’t a decision to make, but a consequence of Capitalism’s Tendency for the Rate of Profit to Fall. You could always get better quality garments for more money, but now clothing is getting worse to retain its core audience, Levi’s jeans are far lower quality than they were 40-50 years ago.
Vehicle makers that angle their hood in a way where it seriously blocks what you can see at the front right corner of the vehicle. Instead of slanting the hood down it’s straight out. Making it very difficult to see the curb when making a turn.
Also subscription fees on cars
Non repairable products parts on cars
The responses so far are not specific examples of individual companies, brands features etc. They suffer the same problem as the article. Please be specific. For example when you say subscriptions on cars maybe mention BMW trying to put a subscription on heated seats.
The list isn’t useful if it’s not specific.
