Consumers now the target of Uber enshittification

Tech and Economics enthusiast Arun Maini revisits Cory Doctorow’s theory of “Enshittification” to explain why Uber has re-invented transportation categories like Taxi and Limo, and is squeezing both consumers and drivers for every possible dime.

“Enshittification” is the term Doctorow created in 2022 to describe what happens when an online platform like Amazon or Twitter becomes more monetized and less user-oriented the longer it lasts. These platforms started out serving users by offering features that lure them in; then serve advertisers and third parties by offering ad targeting and deals; and lastly, serve themselves and their shareholders by cheating and exploiting both advertisers and users. Doctorow calls this process “enshittification.”