The term 'enshittification,' once a piece of internet jargon, has been formally recognized by Merriam-Webster, defined as "when a digital platform is made worse for users, in order to increase profits." This marks a significant moment in the evolution of online discourse.
The term's journey from niche slang to a dictionary-defined word is a case study in the power of what I call "nomions" - concepts that become so deeply embedded in a culture that they shape the very way we perceive and discuss our reality. Unlike a meme, which is often a transient cultural artifact, a nomion becomes a structural part of our vocabulary.
The formal recognition of 'enshittification' validates the widespread user experience of platform decay. It gives a name to a phenomenon that many have felt but struggled to articulate, a sense of betrayal as the platforms that once served them pivot to serve advertisers and shareholders above all else. This is not merely a complaint; it is a diagnosis.
The term's power lies in its precision. It is not simply that platforms get "worse," but that they are made worse, actively and deliberately, for the sake of profit. This is a crucial distinction, and one that the term 'enshittification' captures perfectly. Its inclusion in the dictionary is a testament to its descriptive power and its importance in understanding the current state of the digital world.