Macquarie Dictionary has unveiled its Word of the Year, which exposes the resentment among Aussie consumers about the reliability of tech platforms.
The term ‘enshittification’ was chosen by the dictionary’s selection committee and the public as the Word of the Year for 2024.
It was the first time in the competition’s 18-year history that the same word was picked by both the editors and the public.
The term refers to ‘the gradual deterioration of a service or product brought about by a reduction in the quality of service provided’.
The definition of the word extends specifically to the deterioration of ‘an online platform as a consequence of profit-seeking’.
The dictionary’s committee said the word ‘captures what many of us feel is happening to the world and so many aspects of our lives at the moment’.
Macquarie Dictionary managing editor Victoria Morgan said the word personifies how the owners of tech companies tamper with the platforms.
She explained that while these subtle changes improve the profitability of these companies, they do not improve the service for millions of consumers worldwide.
The word ‘enshittification’ was chosen in reference to the growing resentment among Aussie consumers about the reliability of major tech platforms (stock image)
The definition of the word extends specifically to the deterioration of ‘an online platform as a consequence of profit-seeking’
‘All the streaming channels making you pay extra to not have ads is the perfect example of enshittification,’ Ms Morgan told radio station 3AW on Tuesday.
‘It’s usually associated with (making money).
‘They get the customer base in and everyone is pretty happy, but then they (try) and 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 tech platforms change for the worse without proper regulation.
The phrase ‘brainrot’ came second while the Committee’s Choice also gave honourable mentions to the terms ‘right to disconnect’ or RTD and ‘rawdogging’.
Brainrot describes low quality social media content and the ‘supposed diminished mental capacity’ it triggers in those, who consume it.
The term RTD was selected after the federal government introduced new laws in August, which gives employees the right not to be contacted after working hours.
The selection committee of the dictionary, which is internationally recognised as the standard reference of Australian English, chose the phrase ‘cozzie livs’ as the word of the year in 2023.
The colloquial term refers to the cost of living.
Macquarie Dictionary said the word personifies how the owners of tech companies tamper with the platforms to increase profits. Pictured is X owner Elon Musk
Macquarie Dictionary’s word of the year reveal comes after researchers at the Australian National University (ANU) selected ‘Colesworth’ as their Word of the Year for 2024.
The term, which is a combination of Coles and Woolworths, was picked in reference to the anger over the dominance of the two supermarket giants.
The word is a popular phrase on social media with dozens of Aussies using the term to vent at the soaring cost of grocery prices at both supermarket stores.
Macquarie is one of several dictionaries worldwide that release words of the year.
The UK’s Oxford dictionary is taking votes online for its own, with ‘brainrot’, ‘demure’, ‘dynamic pricing’ and ‘slop’ all in the running.
