Social media 'enshittification' intensifies as platforms prioritize ads over users

—Critics and academics are coining 'enshittification' to describe the systematic degradation of social platforms as Zuckerberg and Musk shift algorithms to maximize advertising revenue at the expense of genuine social connection. The trend coincides with Zuckerberg's Senate appearance, where he apologized to families harmed by social media while defending Meta's practices. Analysts warn the business model may be self-defeating as user engagement declines on platforms that feel more like billboards than communities.