The Rot Economy is a term used to describe a business mindset that prioritizes profit over customer satisfaction and product longevity. In this economy, companies often design products or services in such a way that they become obsolete, inefficient, or frustrating to use after a certain period of time. This is done to force consumers to continually repurchase or upgrade, thereby ensuring a steady stream of revenue for the company."The Rot Economy — the illogical, product-destroying mindset that turns the products you love into torturous, frustrating quasi-tools that require you to fight the company’s intentions to get the service you want."
This mindset can lead to the creation of products that are not only inferior in quality, but also difficult to use or maintain. For instance, a software company might deliberately make its user interface less intuitive or remove popular features in order to push users towards a newer, paid version. Similarly, a hardware manufacturer might design their products to break down after a certain number of uses, a practice known as planned obsolescence. This not only frustrates consumers but also contributes to environmental waste and inefficiency. The Rot Economy, therefore, is a detrimental cycle that not only harms consumers but also the environment and the overall economy in the long run. It's a shift away from the traditional model of creating high-quality, long-lasting products that truly serve the needs of the customer.
Lately, this has become a common trend in the streaming TV world, streaming companies are dialing back features, charging higher fees, and implementing more advertisements. Rotting away what was once a much superior product to cable TV only to become just like them.