this post was submitted on 07 Nov 2026
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Enshittification
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What is enshittification?
The phenomenon of online platforms gradually degrading the quality of their services, often by promoting advertisements and sponsored content, in order to increase profits. (Cory Doctorow, 2022, extracted from Wikitionary) source
The lifecycle of Big Internet
We discuss how predatory big tech platforms live and die by luring people in and then decaying for profit.
Embrace, extend and extinguish
We also discuss how naturally open technologies like the Fediverse can be susceptible to corporate takeovers, rugpulls and subsequent enshittification.
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I like how it doesn't just list the brand and a rating (approved, watchlist, former great, and Avoid), but also justifies that rating. It even includes what it would take to change their minds.
The list of brands is still short, but it includes a lot of heavy-hitters and their reasoning. But, not all of their reasons are good. They really take a negative view of contract manufacturing and rebranding, even if it's not a secret and doesn't meaningfully affect quality.
For instance, their primary reason to avoid Kenmore is that it (mostly) rebadges other brands, especially Whirlpool and LG. This is the biggest open secret in appliances, and has been common knowledge for 50 years. While it's true the Kenmore name doesn't really mean anything, it doesn't change the fact that it's mostly a standard Whirlpool/LG/etc underneath. It has the same benefits and risks as the first party label, and it's trivial to identify who made it.
The current ownership is a much bigger sign of enshittification, but is not their focus.
Friend of mine used to make around $600 a week as a side hustle fixing washers and driers. Went to his house to get a part and he showed and explained that only two sorts of a given part will cover every American manufacturer.
Their reasoning is actually pretty solid but you have to read the thoroughly researched write-ups they do to understand it in full.