December 20th, 2024

Never Forgive Them

Edward Zitron's article discusses how tech companies prioritize growth over user experience, treating users as commodities and creating systemic issues that frustrate users, calling for a realignment of corporate incentives.

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Never Forgive Them

The article "Never Forgive Them" by Edward Zitron explores the deteriorating relationship between technology companies and their users, arguing that the tech industry's focus on growth has led to a decline in user experience. Zitron describes how major tech firms, driven by monopolistic practices and a relentless pursuit of profit, have transformed users into mere commodities. This "en­shittification" of digital services results in products that prioritize engagement metrics over user satisfaction, leading to a frustrating and often hostile digital environment. Zitron highlights specific examples, such as Spotify's redesign to increase engagement through video content, which disregards user preferences. He emphasizes that this trend is not an isolated issue but a systemic problem affecting various platforms, where user needs are secondary to corporate interests. The article calls for a societal reckoning with these practices, urging users to recognize the pervasive nature of these digital irritations and the detrimental impact on their lives. Ultimately, Zitron argues that the tech industry must realign its incentives with user welfare to restore a more equitable exchange of value.

- The tech industry's focus on growth has led to a decline in user experience.

- Major companies prioritize engagement metrics over user satisfaction.

- Users are often treated as commodities rather than valued participants.

- Systemic issues affect various platforms, leading to widespread digital frustrations.

- A societal reckoning is needed to address the negative impact of these practices.

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By @unpolo - 3 months
Every once in a while I think about WhatsApp, which was sold to Facebook in 2014. At that time, WhatsApp had around 500 million users and the payment model was (roughly) $1 per user per year.

It was clear that when even projects as successful as WhatsApp will just get bought up by the giants, there is simply no sustainable way to have any kind of products with a large-ish user base.