'Enshittification' has been named the word of year by Macquarie Dictionary. What does it mean?
"Enshittification" - a term that describes the gradual decline of a product or service, such as social media, when companies prioritise profit over user experience - has been named the 2024 Word of the Year by the Macquarie Dictionary.
The dictionary has been choosing a Word of the Year since 2006 and usually lands on a term that has gained widespread social and cultural significance.
Last year's word was "Cossie livs", a play on "cost of living".
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Macquarie Dictionary has named "Enshittification" as its Word of the Year for 2024. Fairfax
While "enshittification" may not roll off the tongue or have widespread colloquial recognition, it certainly applies to most people, according to the Macquarie Dictionary committee.
The committee said the word "captures what many of us feel is happening to the world and to so many aspects of our lives at the moment".
"All the streaming channels are making you pay more extra to not have ads is the perfect example of enshittification," Macquarie Dictionary managing editor Victoria Morgan told 3AW.
"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."
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The decline of social media services has been pointed to as one example of "enshittification". Getty
'Right to disconnect' makes the shortlist
Other notable mentions from the committee included the "right to disconnect", which refers to the right for employees to be uncontactable during non-work hours.
"Rawdogging" also made the list, which describes the act of taking a long flight without electronic entertainment, devices, or reading material.
Shortlisted words included "brainrot", used to describe internet content deemed to be of low quality or value and "sigma", a slang term that refers to a person who is independent and self-sufficient and who prefers to be alone.
The Australian National Dictionary Centre, based at the Australian National University, announced last week, that "Colesworth" - a blended word referencing the country's largest supermarket chains, Coles and Woolworths was chosen as its word of the year.
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