2024 Word: Australia Chooses Enshittification

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Post on Nov 26, 2024

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2024 Word: Australia Chooses "Enshittification" – A Nation's Frustration

So, Australia’s chosen word of the year for 2024 is "enshittification." Yep, you read that right. It's a mouthful, isn't it? But it perfectly captures the vibe, the feeling, of the year down under. It's not pretty, but it's brutally honest.

What Does "Enshittification" Even Mean?

Let's break it down. It's essentially the process of making something worse, of deliberately degrading its quality. Think of a beautiful park slowly becoming overrun with litter and vandalism. That's enshittification in action. It's about the slow, agonizing decline of something once valued. It’s a feeling, a creeping sense of things going to hell in a handbasket.

Why "Enshittification" Resonated with Australia

This word, coined by Australian writer Helen Razer, struck a chord because, let’s be honest, a lot of Aussies felt like things were going downhill. It wasn't a single event; it was a culmination of various issues. Think rising cost of living, political gridlock, and maybe even that weird heatwave that lasted, like, forever. It encapsulates a general feeling of helplessness.

Political Disillusionment and the Cost of Living Crisis

Many Australians felt let down by the political system. Policies felt ineffective, promises broken. Couple that with skyrocketing prices – rent, groceries, fuel – and you've got a recipe for widespread frustration. It felt like the system, the very fabric of society, was being systematically "enshittified." People were, understandably, pretty pissed off.

The Environmental Impact – A Slow Burn

Australia's relationship with the environment is, to put it mildly, complex. Bushfires, droughts, and the ongoing impact of climate change all contributed to the feeling of things going to pot. The slow, relentless degradation of the natural world is a form of enshittification on a massive scale, deeply affecting people's lives and livelihoods. This added another layer to the pervasive feeling of things getting worse.

More Than Just a Word – A Reflection of National Sentiment

“Enshittification” isn't just a quirky word choice; it's a powerful reflection of the national mood. It highlights a shared feeling of decline, of things falling apart. It's a word that gives voice to the collective frustration and disillusionment felt by many Australians in 2024. It's a stark and unsettling, yet oddly fitting, summary of the year.

Looking Ahead: Can We Reverse the Trend?

The selection of "enshittification" as word of the year is, in a way, a wake-up call. It forces us to confront the issues contributing to this sense of decline. Can we reverse the trend? Maybe. It will require collective action, political will, and a serious commitment to addressing the underlying problems that have led to this widespread feeling of enshittification.

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