Internet & Society

What is the role of platforms in labor and society?

ANSWER

Role of Platforms

The platforms used in labour and societies have grown to a digital level which is an essential part of the more significant contemporary life. These platforms enable customers and other people to order foodstuff and access several other vital services online. They accomplish these roles through connecting different customers with workers who carry out these duties (Ticona & Mateescu, 2018). There has been an increase in platform workers for the past few years, increasing platforms such as Topcoder, Uber, and Rappi. Consequently, these platforms have created great unprecedented opportunities for employees, the community, and businesses by availing innovation globally. At the same time, they have the negative side of posing competition to businesses.

In recent years, there has been a massive transformation in the digital world that has penetrated various sectors of the economy, thus eradicating the ancient foundations of labor markets. The emergence of communication and information technology has set in motion a wave of new procedures and items, increasing competition and increasing productivity. This, therefore, led to the creation of digital labour platforms, which have become a modern way of organizing businesses and work (Scolere, Pruchniewska & Duffy, 2018). In the past ten years, digital labour platforms emerged and aimed to increase online work or directly engage workers to provide delivery services and taxis.

These platforms are unique in their way and cannot be matched with the traditional ways of doing business. The platforms have provided a connection between business and clients, plus changing the labour processes with active implications for the future of work. Flexible work plans, freedom to choose a job, and the choice to work anytime make these platforms known. Employees can also join the platforms to get extra income or, as a result of, lacking other employment opportunities.

References

Scolere, L., Pruchniewska, U., & Duffy, B. E. (2018). Constructing the platform-specific self-brand: The labor of social media promotion. Social Media+ Society, 4(3), 2056305118784768.

Ticona, J., & Mateescu, A. (2018). Trusted strangers: Carework platforms’ cultural entrepreneurship in the on-demand economy. New Media & Society, 20(11), 4384-4404.