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We cannot simply "vote with our wallets" because network effects are powerful. If your friends use cynical apps, you must use them to socialize. This is the cruel genius of the cynic: they have monopolized human connection.

Opt-out buttons phrased to make the user feel guilty (e.g., "No thanks, I hate saving money" ). 2. Forced Monetization and "Rent-Seeking" cynical software

Startups funded by venture capital face immense pressure to achieve exponential growth. Once a user base stabilizes, the company can no longer grow by acquiring new users. Instead, it must financialize its existing users. This transition is what writer Cory Doctorow famously termed the "enshittification" of platforms. The Metrics Obsession We cannot simply "vote with our wallets" because

The Rise of Cynical Software: Why Modern Apps Feel Like They Hate You Opt-out buttons phrased to make the user feel guilty (e