How Enshittification Hollowed the Internet—and What Can Still Save It
There was a time when logging onto the internet felt like stepping into a living, breathing commons. It was messy, imperfect, sometimes hostile—but it was also vibrant, creative, and unexpectedly humane. Communities formed organically. Knowledge circulated freely. Platforms felt like tools rather than traps. For many users, that era reached its emotional peak during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, when social platforms briefly rediscovered their original purpose: connection. Today, that feeling is gone. What remains is a digital environment that feels extractive, manipulative, cluttered with ads, algorithmic noise, and low-quality content. Platforms that once empowered users now exploit … Read more