Macquarie Dictionary's 2024 Word: Enshittification

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Post on Nov 26, 2024

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Macquarie Dictionary's 2024 Word of the Year: Understanding "Enshittification"

The Macquarie Dictionary, Australia's leading authority on the English language, has chosen "enshittification" as its 2024 Word of the Year. This somewhat provocative choice reflects a growing societal concern about the deliberate degradation of services and products. But what exactly does "enshittification" mean, and why is it so relevant today?

Defining "Enshittification": More Than Just a Bad Word

"Enshittification," a relatively new term gaining traction, describes the process of something gradually becoming worse, particularly through neglect, mismanagement, or a deliberate strategy of cost-cutting at the expense of quality. It's not merely about something being bad; it's about the active process of making something bad, often in subtle ways that are difficult to pinpoint initially.

This isn't simply about a decline in quality; it's about a deliberate undermining of value. Think of a once-beloved streaming service that progressively increases its price while simultaneously reducing content quality and introducing intrusive ads. That's enshitification.

Key Characteristics of Enshittification:

• Gradual Degradation: It's a process, not an event. The decline occurs slowly, making it harder to identify and challenge.
• Profit-Driven: Often motivated by a desire to maximize profit margins at the expense of the user experience.
• Subtlety: The changes might be small initially, making it difficult to notice the overall deterioration.
• User Disenfranchisement: The ultimate goal is often to make users feel helpless and accepting of lower standards.

Why "Enshittification" Resonates in 2024

The selection of "enshittification" as the Word of the Year highlights several key trends prevalent in modern society:

• The Rise of Subscription Services: The proliferation of subscription services has made many consumers increasingly susceptible to the subtle erosion of value.
• Cost-Cutting Measures: Businesses are frequently implementing cost-cutting measures that directly impact the quality of their goods or services.
• The Erosion of Public Services: Concerns about the gradual decline of public services, due to underfunding or mismanagement, are widespread.
• Consumer Frustration: People are increasingly frustrated with the erosion of quality in various aspects of their lives.

The word itself encapsulates this widespread feeling of disillusionment and powerlessness. It provides a concise and impactful way to describe the experience of seeing something you value slowly deteriorate.

Beyond the Buzzword: Understanding the Impact

While the word itself might be jarring, understanding the concept of "enshittification" is crucial. Recognizing this process allows us to:

• Identify Problematic Trends: By understanding the markers of enshittification, we can better spot and challenge businesses and institutions that engage in this behavior.
• Advocate for Change: Armed with a clear understanding of the issue, we can more effectively advocate for better quality and fairer treatment.
• Make Informed Choices: Recognizing enshittification empowers us to make informed choices about the products and services we support.

The Macquarie Dictionary's choice of "enshittification" as its 2024 Word of the Year is not just a linguistic observation; it's a reflection of a growing societal concern about the deliberate degradation of quality and value. By understanding this term and the process it describes, we can better navigate a world increasingly prone to subtle forms of exploitation and decline. It prompts us to be more vigilant, more discerning, and more vocal in demanding better.