Macquarie Dictionary has unveiled its Word of the Year, which exposes resentment among Australian consumers over the reliability of technology platforms.
The term ‘enshittification’ was chosen as Word of the Year 2024 by the dictionary’s selection committee and the public.
It was the first time in the contest’s 18-year history that the same word was chosen by both the editors and the public.
The term refers to ‘the gradual deterioration of a service or product caused by a reduction in the quality of the service provided’.
The definition of the word specifically extends to the deterioration of “an online platform due to profiteering.”
The dictionary committee said the word “reflects what many of us think is happening to the world and so many aspects of our lives right now.”
Macquarie Dictionary editor-in-chief Victoria Morgan said the word personifies how tech company owners tamper with the platforms.
She explained that while these subtle changes improve the profitability of these companies, they do not improve service for millions of consumers worldwide.
The word ‘enshittification’ was chosen in reference to growing resentment among Australian consumers over the reliability of major technology platforms (stock image)
The definition of the word specifically extends to the deterioration of ‘an online platform due to profiteering’
“Any streaming channel that makes you pay extra not to see ads is the perfect example of enshittification,” Ms. Morgan told the station 3AW on Tuesday.
“It’s usually associated with (making money).
“They get the customer base and everyone’s pretty happy, but then they (try) to find a quick way to make money.”
The term was first used by British-Canadian blogger and journalist Cory Doctorow in 2022 to describe how technology platforms are changing for the worse without proper regulation.
The term “brainrot” came in second place, while the Committee’s Choice also gave honorable mentions to the terms “right to disconnect” or RTD and “rawdogging.”
Brainrot describes low-quality social media content and the “perceived reduced mental capacity” it produces in those who consume it.
The term RTD was chosen after the federal government introduced new laws in August that give employees the right not to be contacted outside working hours.
The selection committee of the dictionary, which is internationally recognized as the standard reference of Australian English, chose the phrase ‘cozzie livs’ as its 2023 word of the year.
The informal term refers to the cost of living.
Macquarie Dictionary said the word personifies how the owners of technology companies tamper with the platforms to increase profits. The photo shows X owner Elon Musk
The unveiling of Macquarie Dictionary’s word of the year comes after researchers from the Australian National University (ANU) chose ‘Colesworth’ as their Word of the Year for 2024.
The term, which is a combination of Coles and Woolworths, was chosen in reference to anger over the dominance of the two supermarket giants.
The word is a popular expression on social media, with dozens of Australians using it to vent about rising food prices in both supermarkets.
Macquarie is one of many dictionaries worldwide to release words of the year.
The British Oxford Dictionary is up for online voting, with ‘brainrot’, ‘understated’, ‘dynamic prices’ and ‘slop’ all in the running.