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The Australian dictionary has chosen a rather unusual word as its word of the year: “enshittification”. This term, which refers to the process of something gradually becoming worse or more frustrating, particularly in the context of digital services, has resonated with many people in Australia and beyond. The word taps into a growing sense of disillusionment with the digital world, where once-great services are now seen as bad and getting worse.
The concept of enshittification is familiar to anyone who has used digital services such as social media, online banking, or streaming platforms. These services often start out as innovative and user-friendly, but over time, they can become cluttered, slow, and frustrating to use. This decline in quality can be attributed to various factors, including the prioritization of profit over user experience, the accumulation of technical debt, and the failure to adapt to changing user needs.
The Australian dictionary’s choice of “enshittification” as its word of the year reflects the growing awareness of this phenomenon and the need for a term to describe it. The word has already gained significant traction online, with many people using it to express their frustrations with digital services. By recognizing “enshittification” as its word of the year, the Australian dictionary is acknowledging the importance of language in shaping our perceptions of the world and providing a vocabulary for discussing the complexities of modern life.
The selection of “enshittification” as the Australian dictionary’s word of the year also highlights the dynamic and evolving nature of language. As new technologies and cultural trends emerge, they often bring with them new words and concepts that reflect our changing experiences and perceptions. By embracing words like “enshittification”, dictionaries can help to capture the spirit of the times and provide a snapshot of the language as it is used today.
