Brand Trust: The Era of Algorithmic Enshittification?
Brand Trust: The Era of Algorithmic Enshittification?  
Podcast: Ruined By The Internet? | Uncovering the human cost of our digital world
Published On: Sat Jan 24 2026
Description: The internet was supposed to empower brands to build relationships based on authenticity and shared values. But has it instead become a surveillance capitalism machine - exploiting and manipulating our attention until we stopped trusting brands, marketing, and the platforms behind them entirely?We're joined by Nick Richtsmeier - growth consultant and founder of CultureCraft - who works directly with businesses and non-profits to solve the trust decay problem, and understands better than most what brands did wrong and whether there's any way back.Welcome to Ruined By The Internet? - the show where we examine how technology is shaping modern life - whether we want it to or not.Follow or subscribe to never miss the next investigation - new episodes regularly.Visit us: https://www.ruinedbytheinternet.com/Help us investigate ourselves: https://www.ruinedbytheinternet.com/survey/Support the show: https://buymeacoffee.com/rbtishowIn this episode we investigate the mechanics of brand trust decay in the digital age, examine the concept of enshittification and how platforms turned authenticity into a performance, explore the shift toward community-based growth as a response to algorithmic manipulation, and ask whether genuine trust between brands and people is still possible - or whether the damage is already done.00:00 - The internet's impact on brand trust05:03 – Enshittification: what it means and why it matters10:05 - How algorithms shape and distort brand perception15:03 - The shift toward community and authenticity as a response19:58 - Navigating the future of business relationships in a cynical market24:43 - The ticking clock of social movements and brand relevance29:00 - The role brands should play in societal change35:09 - What building genuine trust in the digital age actually looks like39:55 - The illusion of internet trust - and who it serves46:58 - The human spirit versus digital realityGuest links - Nick RichtsmeierWebsite: https://www.damnsgiven.com/CultureCraft: https://culturecraft.com/Podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2365925LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickrichtsmeier/