Journalist, author and activist Cory Doctorow can embark on a 10-minute monologue about what’s wrong with tech and still leave you hungering for more of his rapid-fire analysis and biting humor. It’s stunning to be presented with the big picture of the mess we’re in — and how to potentially get out of it.

In this episode of Dot Social, recorded live at the Fediverse House at SXSW 2025, Doctorow unpacks the concept of “enshittification.” It’s a term he coined to show how we got to this place where platforms prioritize business interests over user experience, leading to tragic declines in quality and trust. He talks about how to challenge platform monopolies and the importance of true federation.

Highlights include discussions of:

• The internet’s evolution and its current state
• The cycle of platform abuse
• The role of competition and regulation
• Benefits of RSS and the social web
• Cory’s new book, “Picks and Shovels”

We invite you to watch the podcast on Flipboard’s PeerTube instance at flipboard.video: 

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We will continue to bring you new episodes with fascinating leaders as we record them. The best way to never miss an episode is to subscribe to the show. Please also rate, review, comment and share, especially if you like what you hear. 

See you in the fediverse!