Stop making it hard
How to reduce the enshittification of your product or service (as told by a frustrated GenXer)
My laptop died recently. Then, I decided to launch a couple of new things. At the risk of sounding like a cranky old lady, it’s really highlight how bloody annoying the enshittification of technology is.
The problem is, everyone seems to be following big tech’s lead and making everything much harder than it needs to be.
Don’t you want my participation or my money?
How to reduce the enshittification of your user’s experience
Give me an FAQ that answers what I want in a meaningful way
Let me get somewhere fast with the basics - installation, setup, playing. If I can’t do this solo, then you’ve got no hope of me staying
If I chose you to automate something, make a product that reduces my legwork by at least 50% or you can forget it
Stop invading my inbox to beg me to learn your product on a daily basis. It’s too bloody overwhelming
That user guide or step through article you are writing better include more than the best case scenario because I’m only reading it if I have a problem
Don’t hide the problems from me. I’ll just find the answer on some Reddit thread or message board where you’ve entirely lost control of the conversation
Give me video with captions and/or a transcript and make it accessible
Let me do stuff by myself via robust content, especially if you use Chat Bots or don’t offer a time zone friendly version of customer service
Not sure what enshittification is? Check out this Guardian article.
IMAGE: reads down with enshittification