The Enshittification of the Creative Internet

The creative internet is a network of online platforms, creative people, and communities where artists learn and grow together while also showcasing their artwork to others. While this space of people, technology, and routine presentation of art once held such promise for creatives, for many, that place is something that now only exists in memory. This paper presents an interview study with 22 visual artists who share their art in online social spaces. Taking a historical approach, we explore their journeys across the creative internet, the promise it held for them as artists, and how the creative internet became enshittified as online platforms got bigger. Through the lens of enshittification, we explore how changes in platform policy, design, and algorithmic mediation have shifted the creative practices of artists, and how, as artists contend with enshittified platform spaces, they are resilient and forward joy in their art. We discuss the role that nostalgia plays in the concept of enshittification, contributing insight into why people stay on increasingly hostile platforms, and suggest opportunities for platforms and artists alike to forward joy and resilience in the face of a now shittier internet.