DIGITAL CAPITALISM UNVEILED: UNDERSTANDING ITS IMPACT FOR SOCIETY THROUGH CASES OF FACEBOOK AND UBER

Öz

The convergence of digital capitalism and political economy offers a profound area for exploration, highlighting the complex interactions between technology and economy in today's global digital landscape. Central to this study are the digital technologies that reshape traditional economic paradigms, influencing consumption and employment significantly. Utilizing Dan Schiller’s theoretical framework, this paper examines the impacts of these technologies on economic structures and social behaviours, alongside the associated risks through the lens of political economy. A critical analysis is presented through the case studies of Facebook and Uber, emblematic of social media networks and the gig economy respectively. Facebook, with its business model based on the commodification of user data, exemplifies digital capitalism's vulnerabilities as showcased during the Cambridge Analytica scandal, where data privacy breaches had far-reaching implications on policy and regulatory frameworks. This incident emphasizes the urgent need for strict data protection laws that mandate clear user consent and ensure data mobility. Uber’s model highlights the unstable nature of gig work under digital capitalism. By classifying drivers as independent contractors, Uber not only minimizes costs but also shifts substantial risk onto the workers, illustrating the need for policies that redefine worker classifications and provide comprehensive rights and benefits to gig workers. These case studies not only reflect Schiller’s critique of digital economic models but also emphasize the transformative potential of digital technologies, stressing the need for robust regulatory frameworks that protect interests of all stakeholders in the digital capitalism ecosystem. This analysis contributes significantly to our understanding of digital capitalism, particularly in how it interfaces with governance and societal structures, offering critical insights into the formulation of policies that safeguard social and economic welfare in the digitized age.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• digital capitalism
• neoliberalism
• marxism
• sharing economy
• gig economy

DİJİTAL KAPİTALİZMİN AÇIĞA ÇIKIŞI: FACEBOOK VE UBER ÖRNEKLERİ ÜZERİNDEN TOPLUMSAL ETKİLERİNİN ANLAŞILMASI

Öz

Dijital kapitalizm ile ekonomi politiğin yakınsaması, günümüzün küresel dijital ortamında teknoloji ve ekonomi arasındaki karmaşık etkileşimleri vurgulayarak derin bir araştırma alanı sunmaktadır. Bu çalışmanın merkezinde de geleneksel ekonomik paradigmaları yeniden şekillendiren, tüketimi ve istihdamı önemli ölçüde etkileyen dijital teknolojiler yer almaktadır. Dan Schiller'in teorik çerçevesini kullanan bu makale, bu teknolojilerin ekonomik yapılar ve sosyal davranışlar üzerindeki etkilerini ve ilgili riskleri ekonomi politiğin merceğinden incelemektedir. Sırasıyla sosyal medya ağlarının ve esnek ekonominin sembolü olan Facebook ve Uber’in örnek olay incelemeleri aracılığıyla eleştirel bir analiz sunulmaktadır. Facebook, kullanıcı verilerinin metalaştırılmasına dayanan iş modeliyle, veri gizliliği ihlallerinin politika ve düzenleyici çerçeveler üzerinde geniş kapsamlı sonuçlara yol açan Cambridge Analytica skandalı sırasında sergilenen dijital kapitalizmin güvenlik açıklarına örnek teşkil etmektedir. Bu olay, açık kullanıcı rızasını zorunlu kılan ve veri hareketliliğini güvene alan katı veri koruma yasalarına olan acil ihtiyacı vurgulamaktadır. Uber’in modeli, dijital kapitalizm altında geçici işlerin istikrarsız doğasını vurgulamaktadır. Uber, sürücüleri bağımsız yükleniciler olarak sınıflandırarak yalnızca maliyetleri en aza indirmekle kalmaz, aynı zamanda önemli riskleri çalışanların üzerine yıkar; bu da işçi sınıflandırmasını yeniden tanımlayan ve iş çalışanlarına kapsamlı haklar ve faydalar sağlayan politikalara olan ihtiyacı göstermektedir. Bu vaka çalışmaları yalnızca Schiller’in dijital ekonomik modellere yönelik eleştirisini yansıtmakla kalmaz, aynı zamanda dijital kapitalizm ekosistemindeki tüm paydaşların çıkarlarını koruyan sağlam düzenleyici çerçevelere olan ihtiyacı vurgulayarak dijital teknolojilerin dönüştürücü potansiyelini de vurgular. Bu analiz, dijital kapitalizme ilişkin anlayışa, özellikle de yönetim ve toplumsal yapılarla nasıl etkileşime girdiği konusunda önemli ölçüde katkıda bulunarak, dijitalleşen çağda sosyal ve ekonomik refahı koruyan politikaların formülasyonuna yönelik kritik içgörüler sunmaktadır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• dijital kapitalizm
• ekonomik dönüşüm
• veri gizliliği
• gig ekonomisi
• toplumsal değişim

Kaynakça

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