Sober Philosophy: Enshittification (Meryl presents, AZF)

From Deep Seek:

"Enshittification" (also called "platform decay") is a term coined by writer and activist Cory Doctorow to describe the predictable pattern of how online platforms and services degrade over time.
The process unfolds in three distinct phases:

1. Be good to users – The platform offers high value, low cost, and genuine utility to attract a large user base. Think early Amazon (free shipping, easy returns) or early Twitter (open, chronological timeline, minimal ads).
2. Abuse users to benefit business customers – Once users are locked in (due to network effects, switching costs, or lack of alternatives), the platform shifts its focus. It begins extracting value from users by restricting features, increasing ads, or degrading privacy—while promising business customers (advertisers, sellers, creators) access to those captive users.
3. Abuse business customers to extract maximum profit for shareholders – With users trapped and businesses dependent, the platform squeezes both. It raises fees on sellers, arbitrarily changes algorithms, reduces discoverability unless businesses pay, and cuts costs at the expense of quality—all while maximizing shareholder returns.

Doctorow originally used the term to describe platforms like Amazon, Facebook, Twitter (now X), and TikTok, but the pattern has since been identified across sectors including software, gaming, streaming services, and even physical retail.
The core insight is that enshittification isn't simple corporate greed—it's a structural consequence of removing switching costs. When leaving a platform becomes difficult or impossible (because your social graph, data, or business depends on it), the platform no longer needs to compete for your loyalty and can instead extract value from you.
The term has gained widespread usage as a concise way to describe the feeling many users have: "This service used to be great, then it got worse, and now it feels like it exists only to monetize me."

4-minute YouTube video
https://youtu.be/T4Upf_B9RLQ?si=hf6FIKzY7x1yZTvo

Symptom-free (of potentially contagious disease) people with the capacity to listen considerately to diverse viewpoints are invited to attend after successfully RSVPing.

We begin the meeting at 7:30 pm sharp at the mezzanine above the lobby of the Graduate Hotel in the University District: 4507 Brooklyn Ave NE, Seattle, WA 98105.

Directions for first-timers at the Graduate Hotel:
From the front hotel entrance go to the right. Turn left around the corner to enter through the north valet entrance. If the valet questions you just say you're here for the philosophy group. Go straight to the main lobby and turn right behind the large bookshelves before the elevators. Enter the stairway on your left, go up one flight, and go through the first door you encounter to enter our meeting area.

AMAZON FORMAT (AZF)
We will begin the meeting by watching the video above on a laptop together.

OPENING ROUNDTABLE FORMAT (ORF):

1. The topic presenter begins the discussion by explaining why they are interested in the topic and some introductory thoughts on it.
2. Each participant in turn going clockwise from the presenter describes their general thoughts on the topic.
3. If one is not ready to speak they can just say “pass” and the next person speaks.
4. After we've gone around once anyone who passed will get a second chance to comment.
5. Once everyone has given opening remarks or passed twice, Opening Roundtable is completed and the meeting shifts into its main format.

TIMED DIRECTION FORMAT (TDRF>4):
If there are more than 4 people present we will use the format below.

1. We will divide up the timed direction discussion time by the number of participants plus one (for a buffer). A timer will be set for this amount of time.
2. Each participant in turn will become a Discussion Director and lead the group discussion.
3. If one is not ready to direct they dimply say “pass” and the next person becomes the Discussion Director.
4. Anyone who arrives after step 1 (above), may participate but will not get a turn as Discussion Director.
5. The Discussion Director can make statements or ask questions, or interrupt or redirect the discussion at their discretion.
6. The discussion participants can state their own opinions only when asked by the Discussion Director, not Interrupt others and accede to the Discussion Director’s interruptions or redirections.
7. When the timer goes off the person speaking finishes their thought and then the next participant clockwise becomes the next Discussion Director.
8. After we've gone around once anyone who passed will get a second chance to direct.

At the end of the meeting, participants will have an opportunity to vote on the topic and format for the following meeting.