A large part of the web is getting worse. One of the reasons is enshittification, which is providers making the product worse while increasing prices. That will not happen here!
The term enshittification was coined – or at least popularized – by US author Cory Doctorow. He wrote in a now quite famous blog post in 2022:
"Here is how platforms die: first, they are good to their users; then they abuse their users to make things better for their business customers; finally, they abuse those business customers to claw back all the value for themselves. Then, they die.
I call this enshittification ..."
The term has its own Wikipedia entry.
I just want to promise that this will not happen here!
*Beep* really does happen
We have seen this happen again and again to social media like Facebook and Instagram, to online services and streaming like Netflix, YouTube or Spotify (you pay, but still get ads) and even to software such as Photoshop and Lightroom from Adobe.
It’s even coming to your physical appliances and products like TV’s, your fridge, your car.
Since everything is software controlled and connected to the internet, companies can add and remove features as they please.
Heat in your car seat? Not anymore, unless you pay!
Ad free TV-channels? You may have them, but your TV will inject ads on its own – on all channels, even the ad free ones!
And if you disconnect anything from the internet? Sorreeee – no service unless connected!
Oh, and by the way, we are shutting down the support and service for the product you bought and own, so it's basically bricked! And the law forbids you to hack it.
The development
This is the very typical progression of a service or product turning into something you didn’t want:
- Price increases after achieving market dominance.
- Ads are introduced in formerly ad-free tiers.
- Feature restrictions or paywalls are introduced.
- Algorithmic feeds replace user control or plain chronology.
- Pay-to-play or subscriptions replace formerly free or ad-financed services
- Extra charges appear for services that used to be included.
- You still see ads in spite of paying.
- Even business partners such as content providers, sub-contractors or sellers/distributors start feeling the increased prices and reduced quality and service.
This Norwegian video (in English) perfectly illustrates the process and the motivation – and the results. Great of the Norwegians to shout out and expose the mechanisms and business models.
Another avid fighter for consumer rights is Louis Rossmann, who – among many other things – helped set up the Internet’s largest dedicated repository of information on anti-consumer practices.
Not on my shift
A while back I wrote how GFF is not going to buckle to the ever increasing use of AI to create content. This site is written and presented by humans.
In the same way I can basically guarantee that as long as I am at the helm of the Global FlyFisher, it’s not going to turn into *beep*.
We took our turn with ads, and that didn’t work. Asking users and readers for money was a MUCH better way of covering costs, and still works like a charm.
So, nowadays there are no business partners, no outside interests in the site, no money floating around other than what can cover the expenses, and there is only one big and important group: the readers!
Everybody gets the same product, but those who want to pay a bit for it, can do so. The rest can enjoy everything just like the "paying customers".
There will be no fees, there will be no subscriptions, there will be no differentiation in the content or functions between readers on this site as long as I have anything to say.
You all get the same.
You all get the same
A fight against windmills?
OK, I know that my personal little vendetta against the internet turning into something that I don’t want it to be, might be in vain.
I’m up against much larger powers, people with money and influence, batshit crazy (to stay in the terminology) or just downright ignorant politicians (read: mostly old), who have no understanding of technology and no idea what they are legislating on.
And quite honestly, there's also a large fraction of plain users who seem to just bend over, and take the *beep* as it comes.
Ads ... well, they are everywhere anyway.
Fees ... they’re so small. I’ll just pay.
Disappearing features ... I was hardly using them anyway.
Algorithms controlling everything ... yeah, that’s pretty annoy ... hey see, a kitten playing piano next to that girl with big boobs!
Well, I’ll keep my little corner of the internet free of that as long as I can.
I enjoy making this site, and it’s my naive – and maybe vain – impression that quite a lot of people enjoy visiting.
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