Definition:
Consumer lock-in is the condition in which individuals are made dependent on a product, service, or platform through technical, financial, social, or procedural barriers that make leaving costly or difficult.
Usage Context:
Seen in subscription services, digital platforms, proprietary ecosystems, financial products, and essential services.
Critical Note:
Lock-in reframes dependency as loyalty or convenience. Choice remains nominal, but exit is engineered to be painful, risky, or impractical, shifting power decisively toward providers.
Related Terms:
Subscription Lock-In, Platform Dependency, Cancellation Friction, Switching Costs, Enshittification