The “Ensh*ttification” of the Internet

golinux · 2025-10-28 15:11:50

Wanted to make sure y'all caught this gem from Cory Doctorow via Amanpour & Co:

The “Ensh*ttification” of the Internet and How to Fix It

"What with the rise in AI-generated ads, pop-ups and reams of information, author Cory Doctorow says, "The internet is getting worse,fast." He joins the show to discuss his latest book examining where it all went wrong and how we can fix it."

Interestingly, I have never frequented any of the offenders mentioned. They always gave me the creeps and I could see it coming . . .

greenjeans · 2025-10-28 15:46:17

I just like coined words, and that's a good one!

stargate-sg1-cheyenne-mtn · 2025-10-28 16:05:51

couple years ago:

https://dev1galaxy.org/viewtopic.php?pid=46673#p46673

wikipedia:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enshittification

edited to add this video which is DEFINITELY worth watching as Ms Khan interviews Cory:

Cory Doctorow Discusses Ensh*ttification with Lina M. Khan - 75min-video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCX5Yst64Hw

Last edited by stargate-sg1-cheyenne-mtn (2025-10-28 16:08:51)

Duke Nukem · 2025-10-28 23:33:38

Add to this the effect of increasing censorship as a result of some supposed free speech governments such as resulting from the Online Safety Act (OSA) in the UK. This requires self-policing and age verification by website owners in case a troll posts "unsuitable" material, which is not defined exactly by the OSA but is being taken to include not only the obvious stuff that most people assume it is all about, but also current news of violent events such as serious crimes and the war in Ukraine, military history, rabbit breeding, and advice on sexual health.

Many website owners have taken down their websites rather than risk the severe punishments specified by the OSA, or have blocked access from the countries concerned. For example the widely used Imgur photo sharing website is now "Content not available" here in the UK and Wikipedia is under some threat.

I have been banned from a couple of harmless geek interest type forums for refusing to give my age verification (copy of passport, driving licence etc) on principle and for security reasons.

golinux · 2025-10-29 00:13:32

I have been banned from a couple of harmless geek interest type forums for refusing to give my age verification (copy of passport, driving license etc) on principle and for security reasons.

Bravo! I would do the same!!

stargate-sg1-cheyenne-mtn · 2025-10-29 05:30:10

^^^ @Duke Nukem & @golinux, ditto! Bravo on principle/security/just_because/stubborn_individualist/etc

in other news...our days are numbered...we know not their count...or their tempo...enjoy the dance.

.

oops, forgot Fred Rogers: Ten Seconds

.

Last edited by stargate-sg1-cheyenne-mtn (2025-10-29 05:39:47)

golinux · 2025-10-29 18:47:50

FWIW . . . I said NO WAY to a cell phone too!

greenjeans · 2025-10-29 18:56:32

FWIW . . . I said NO WAY to a cell phone too!

Me too! I did have one for a while, moved out to the sticks and couldn't get any reception, so I threw it away, been without one for 2 years now and don't miss it.

stargate-sg1-cheyenne-mtn · 2025-10-30 12:55:16

for an ever-increasing number of planetary humans, their smartphone is their only electric/electronic communications device.

this is especially true for the age ranges from 0 to 40 and for a significant portion of the homeless of any/all age(s).

the insiders used twitter, facebook, and instagram to further divide and conquer the left, the right, and everyone else.

https://www.theverge.com/c/features/23993135/twitter-breaking-news-history

the image at the end of that webpage is interesting.

referencing a sign in that background image "we really shouldn't open the sarcophagus until we've completed all the side quests"

we return you now to your regularly scheduled programming

as always, ymmv.

Last edited by stargate-sg1-cheyenne-mtn (2025-10-30 12:56:36)

zapper · 2025-10-31 00:04:49

If you have to use a cell phone, I recommend a grapheneOS phone. Nothing more, nothing less.

I don't recommend straight android, because Google is an abusive manipulator

golinux · 2025-10-31 00:43:08

@zapper . . . thanks for the tip. Hopefully I'll never have to use it!

dzz · 2025-10-31 15:20:50

Thanks golinux, a good read. Supporters of software/digital freedom and opponents of surveillance should bookmark https://www.eff.org/ (Electronic Frontier Foundation, who Cory Doctorow says he works for).

If you have to use a cell phone, I recommend a grapheneOS phone.

grapheneOS seems to support (so far) only google pixel devices. Many others can run e/os https://e.foundation/ or lineageOS for microG https://lineage.microg.org/ .. as close as you will get to open source and also degoogled.

Here in UK it's probably now more expensive to keep a landline than a mobile.

Last edited by dzz (2025-10-31 16:31:46)

tux_99 · 2025-10-31 17:32:41

If I had a need for a smartphone (fortunately I don't) I would get a Jolla C2 with SailFishOS (Linux based) as it runs Android Apps too, despite not being Android based.

golinux · 2025-10-31 18:17:17

WOW! It seems that resistance is not futile! Thanks for all the valuable suggestions!!

greenjeans · 2025-10-31 19:50:03

^^ I keep telling you there is ALWAYS hope.

zapper · 2025-10-31 23:22:45

@golinux good news:

https://www.androidauthority.com/graphe … p-3606853/

@dzz read the above link also

It seems the that grapheneos might be supported on more then google devices soon.

stargate-sg1-cheyenne-mtn · 2025-11-01 05:26:53

also be of possible interest:

https://forum.tinycorelinux.net/index.php/topic,27829.0.html

The officially official Devuan Forum!

#1 2025-10-28 15:11:50

The “Ensh*ttification” of the Internet

#2 2025-10-28 15:46:17

Re: The “Ensh*ttification” of the Internet

#3 2025-10-28 16:05:51

Re: The “Ensh*ttification” of the Internet

#4 2025-10-28 23:33:38

Re: The “Ensh*ttification” of the Internet

#5 2025-10-29 00:13:32

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#6 2025-10-29 05:30:10

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#7 2025-10-29 18:47:50

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#10 2025-10-31 00:04:49

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#11 2025-10-31 00:43:08

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#17 2025-11-01 05:26:53

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