Never Forgive Them

In a recent exploration of the tech industry's relationship with users, Edward Zitron argues that the digital landscape has become increasingly hostile and exploitative. He suggests that the incentives of major tech companies, such as Meta, Amazon, and Apple, have shifted away from user satisfaction towards relentless growth and profit maximization. This shift has led to a degradation of user experience, where customers are treated more like commodities than participants in a value exchange. Zitron describes this phenomenon as "en­shittification," where products are designed to extract maximum value from users, often at the expense of usability and satisfaction. He highlights how frequent redesigns and updates are often not user-driven but rather aimed at increasing engagement metrics and revenue. The result is a digital environment filled with frustration, where users are bombarded with ads, intrusive features, and confusing interfaces. Zitron calls for a societal reckoning with these issues, emphasizing that the problems are systemic and affect everyone, particularly those with lower socioeconomic status. He argues that the tech industry’s focus on growth has created a "Rot Economy," where user happiness is sacrificed for profit, leading to a pervasive sense of annoyance and dissatisfaction in daily digital interactions.

- Major tech companies prioritize growth over user satisfaction.

- Frequent updates often degrade user experience rather than improve it.

- Users are treated as commodities in a system designed to extract value.

- The digital environment is filled with ads and intrusive features.

- The issues in tech are systemic and affect users across various socioeconomic backgrounds.