The piece argues that many tech companies and media businesses have turned against their users in an attempt to extract more value. Executives like David Zaslav are criticized for their cynical approach that aims to drain the culture’s “dream reserve” for profit. This enshittification process happens when platforms abuse their users to benefit business customers and then abuse those customers to claw back all value for themselves. The author suggests that capital’s desire for endless growth and control, without needing people, stems from an old capitalist fantasy that ignores human needs. However, the value of these businesses ultimately comes from people, not the executives. Therefore, there may come a time when people must part ways with those who own much but understand little.

  • worfamerryman@beehaw.org
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    6
    ·
    1 year ago

    Many years ago I read something that basically stated that the masses would be too poor to be worth selling to.

    Because of this, products will be designed for the rich, and they will figure out how to sell to the masses as an afterthought.

    The examples they used were gaming with pay to win mechanics. You have a handful of rich people buying all these micro transaction while the masses just play and grind away. Spending a little and hoping to get lucky.

    They can’t just sell the game for $200 or else you would only have rich people playing it and that would not be enough for a community of people to play an online game.