this post was submitted on 09 Apr 2024
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Enshittification
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What is enshittification?
The phenomenon of online platforms gradually degrading the quality of their services, often by promoting advertisements and sponsored content, in order to increase profits. (Cory Doctorow, 2022, extracted from Wikitionary) source
The lifecycle of Big Internet
We discuss how predatory big tech platforms live and die by luring people in and then decaying for profit.
Embrace, extend and extinguish
We also discuss how naturally open technologies like the Fediverse can be susceptible to corporate takeovers, rugpulls and subsequent enshittification.
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The key difference is that you don't have to be subscribed to all of those services at the same time. You can rotate through them.
Watch what you want on Netflix, unsub > sub to Disney and watch what you want, unsub > ....
Sure in an ideal world it would be better if everything was on a single cheap service, but sadly that won't happen.
so far. cable in my area also didnt force me to subscribe to all channels until it did.
Or just sail the 7 seas since it's not convenient to rotate stuff like that, track which service you have etc.
Agreed!
And if you weren't already convinced, those streaming services will kneecap the service you paid for by only giving lower bitrates, max quality 1080p, etc., unless you use their app. Why would anyone want to avoid using their apps? Because they have malware baked into them that spies on you.
For how shitty cable TV was, at least they couldn't use that service to eavesdrop on your private conversations, track what you watch, etc. If they find your personal data so profitable and worth taking from you, they should at least offer their service for free and get real consent from you before you use it. Big, bold letters next to the download button that say this service is monetarily free but we will spy on you very hard in exchange for its use.
Until their services stop being shitty, expensive, and crammed full of malware, it's the 7 seas for me, baby 🏴☠️⛵🏴☠️
This subscribe-and-binge-for-1-month approach seems to be exactly what a lot of people are doing. Vox just did a short video on it.
This is the way.
The current model tries to fight back against this by having a release or "broadcast" schedule so the latest season of a show isn't binge-able. I also think the whole mess relies pretty heavily on FOMO with the current fandom and the desire for a spoiler-free experience. Otherwise, it's much cheaper to permanently stay a year or two behind everyone else well after full seasons are released (and the reviews are in).
If I'm right, we'll eventually see more draconian policies to "lock in" subscribers somehow. (I'll leave it at that - please don't give them ideas)
What like free blowjobs on renewal?
I think soon it will be yearly contracts or cancelation fees.
Crave already does an annual fee. IIRC it's one-time and about $100.
It's owned by bell, so not surprising.
They didn't invent evil, but they did perfect it.
Or...don't be subscribed to any of them and watch their content anyways..
ya har me hearties I don' kno' wha' ye be speakin of
https://www.telus.com/en/shop/subscriptions/streamplus