What Is ‘Enshittification,’ Australia’s Word of the Year? [Video]

For anyone browsing the internet, finding what you need has become increasingly difficult. Social media platforms now prioritize algorithm-driven content over posts from friends. Search engines start with sponsored ads, making it harder to find relevant results. And the list goes on.

In 2022, a term captured the growing frustration with finding what you need: “enshittification.” Coined by Cory Doctorow, a Canadian tech critic, it describes how platforms increasingly prioritize profits over the interests of users and business customers, making the internet harder to navigate.

The term has been crowned 2024’s word of the year by Australia’s oldest dictionary of Australian English.

Macquarie Dictionary’s committee praised the word for its resonance and humor. “This word captures what many of us feel is happening to the world and to so many aspects of our lives,” the panel said.

The public echoed this sentiment, selecting “enshittification” as their favorite among a shortlist …