Cory Doctorow on how to fix the feeds
Author and activist Cory Doctorow argues platforms can be better if users and regulators push back against “enshittification”—the steady worsening of online experiences. In a new interview, he says interoperability rules, aggressive antitrust and data-portability mandates could restore competition. He points to communities that thrive on open protocols and small, paid services as proof that alternatives work. The problem, he says, is not the internet but the business model that locks people into ad-maximizing funnels.

Tools, incentives and a path out
Doctorow suggests practical steps: browser extensions that cut dark patterns, community-run recommendation lists and legal pressure to stop self-preferencing. He notes that even modest tweaks to defaults can lift the quality of feeds and search. Culture won’t heal overnight, but transparent systems that respect user choice give creators better economics and audiences more control. The piece frames a near-term path for readers who feel trapped by engagement loops: change incentives, rebuild choice, and refuse the false trade-off between convenience and dignity.