Overview of Enshittification by Roman Mars
In this episode of 99% Invisible, Roman Mars and producer Chris Berube examine how everyday products become harder to use, harder to repair, and more expensive over time as companies add software, lock users into proprietary ecosystems, and shift control away from consumers. Using tractors, printers, phones, and smart home devices as examples, the episode explains Cory Doctorow’s term “enshittification”—the process by which platforms and products start out useful, then degrade as companies squeeze more value out of users and repair markets. The episode also highlights the growing right to repair movement as the main force pushing back.
What “Enshittification” Means
Cory Doctorow’s idea describes a three-stage decline:
- A company attracts users by making the product or platform useful.
- Once users are locked in, the company changes the rules to benefit business customers or itself.
- The experience worsens for everyone else as the company extracts more money and control.
The episode makes clear that this isn’t just an internet problem. It applies to physical products too, especially anything that has become “smart” or software-driven.
Key Examples Discussed
Smart devices in everyday life
Roman’s own smart thermostat frustration becomes a symbol of the broader complaint: devices that were once simple and mechanical now rely on software that can fail, disconnect, or become impossible to troubleshoot.
Tractors and farming equipment
The strongest example is modern John Deere tractors and other farm machinery:
- Tractors now depend on onboard computers and software.
- If a sensor fails or the system detects an issue, the machine may “derate” itself, reducing horsepower until it becomes unusable.
- Error codes often don’t explain the problem.
- Farmers may be forced to wait for authorized technicians, losing valuable time during critical harvest windows.
For farmers like Jared Wilson, those delays can mean real financial loss when crops are ready and equipment is down.
Printers, phones, and other devices
The episode broadens the argument to:
- Printers that block third-party ink
- iPhones that restrict non-Apple repair parts and tools
- Wheelchairs, ventilators, fridges, and other essential devices that can be locked down by software
The core issue is interoperability: whether parts and tools from different sources can work together. Software often prevents that, even when the hardware itself could technically function.
Why This Is So Frustrating
The episode argues that modern device design creates a bad loop:
- You buy something expensive.
- It breaks.
- You can’t repair it yourself.
- Independent repair shops don’t have access to the tools or software.
- You must go back to the manufacturer.
- The manufacturer controls the price, parts, and service.
This is not just annoying—it can be costly, anti-competitive, and wasteful.
How People Are Fighting Back
1. Gray-market and DIY repair
Some people are bypassing restrictions through jailbreaking, hacked software, or unofficial repair tools. This can work, but it’s risky and often legally dubious.
2. The legal danger: digital locks
The episode explains how the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), especially Section 1201, makes it risky to bypass “digital locks.” A law intended to stop media piracy is now used to limit repair on everyday products.
3. The right to repair movement
A more legitimate response is the right to repair movement, which argues that if you own something, you should be allowed to fix it.
Notable advocates mentioned include:
- Gay Gordon-Byrne of the Repair Association
- Jared Wilson, who has lobbied lawmakers for repair rights
- Cory Doctorow, who has helped popularize the broader critique
Signs of Progress
The episode notes real political wins:
- The European Union passed a directive requiring member states to adopt right-to-repair laws by summer 2026.
- Several U.S. states have passed repair legislation, including:
- Colorado for farm equipment
- Oregon for wheelchairs and some electronics
- Other states for phones and laptops
- A bipartisan federal bill on car repair is under consideration in the U.S. House.
Manufacturers are also beginning to respond by releasing some repair tools and consumer-facing repair software.
Important Caveats
The episode is optimistic, but not fully celebratory:
- Some repair tools still collect user data in ways farmers dislike.
- Many right-to-repair laws do not fully solve parts pairing or interoperability restrictions.
- Companies still argue that repair access could threaten intellectual property.
- Progress is real, but incomplete.
Final Takeaways
- Software is increasingly being used to control products after purchase.
- This control often hurts users, repair shops, and independent competition.
- “Enshittification” is a useful lens for understanding why so many products feel worse now.
- The right to repair movement is the main practical response, and it is already producing results.
- The larger argument is simple: ownership should include the ability to fix what you buy.
Postscript / Update
The episode ends with a note that in April 2026, John Deere agreed to pay $99 million to settle a class-action lawsuit related to right-to-repair concerns. The company also said it offers consumer repair software and that about 60% of John Deere parts have third-party replacements on the market.
Notable Line of Thought
A recurring idea in the episode is that modern tech companies often make products “worse by design” after users are locked in. The result is not just inconvenience, but a system that is economically, environmentally, and politically harmful.