Observed Signal · Sep 1, 2026 · Commentary · Source: a16z · Impact: 2/5 · Sentiment: Positive
Enshittification Is Not Real, Data Shows
In this opinion piece from a16z's newsletter, guest author Ruby Thelot, an NYU professor, argues that the concept of 'enshittification'—the theory that platforms progressively degrade to serve business interests at the expense of users—is not supported by data. He cites growing social media user numbers (from 2.5B in 2016 to ~6B now), increased daily time spent on Instagram, and rising satisfaction scores per ACSI. The author attributes perceived decline to 'platform narcissism,' where early adopters expect platforms to remain tailored to their specific needs as they evolve for broader, global audiences. He uses Facebook's feature timeline as an example of platform adaptation. The article concludes that revealed user preferences contradict enshittification claims, and that platforms remain popular and free.
Opinion piece analyzing social media platform user engagement and satisfaction data, relevant for advertisers and platform strategy.
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Key Takeaways & Evidence Grounding
- Social media users grew from 2.5 billion to nearly 6 billion between 2016 and 2025.
- Instagram's average daily usage increased year over year.
- Social media satisfaction scores (ACSI) rose from 70 to 75 between 2020 and 2025.
- The article claims all major platforms saw increases in satisfaction.
- The article argues that users' revealed preferences contradict the enshittification narrative.
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1 Entity mapped“At a company like Meta, platforms are shaped by thousands of data-driven product decisions....”
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