The Trouble with Tech Companies (and Their Strategies)

Cory Doctorow, author and digital rights advocate, argues that big tech companies from Facebook to Google and beyond have evolved - or devolved - in a disappointing way. He says that many large tech companies begin with a good product, but that over time they prioritize first business customers, and then ultimately shareholders and profits over end users. That creates a decline in service quality, and Doctorow explains why that's bad for customers, companies, and the broader economy and society. Doctorow wrote the new book Enshittification: Why Everything Suddenly Got Worse and What to Do About It.

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Episode 1047

The Trouble with Tech Companies (and Their Strategies)

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A conversation with writer Cory Doctorow about why tech companies seem to deprioritize users.

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October 07, 2025

Cory Doctorow, author and digital rights advocate, argues that big tech companies from Facebook to Google and beyond have evolved – or devolved – in a disappointing way. He says that many large tech companies begin with a good product, but that over time they prioritize first business customers, and then ultimately shareholders and profits over end users. That creates a decline in service quality, and Doctorow explains why that’s bad for customers, companies, and the broader economy and society. Doctorow wrote the new book *Enshittification: Why Everything Suddenly Got Worse and What to Do About It.*

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This article is about CORPORATE STRATEGY

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Related Topics:

• Economics

• Customer strategy

• Customer-centricity

• Leadership

• Strategy

• Start-ups

• Technology and analytics

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