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Mediatization of Social Space and the Case of Uber Drivers

Author

Listed:
  • Ngai Keung Chan

    (Department of Communication, Cornell University, Ithaca, USA)

  • Lee Humphreys

    (Department of Communication, Cornell University, Ithaca, USA)

Abstract

Digital data have become a form of “objectivation”, which affect how we construct social knowledge and organize social space (Couldry & Hepp, 2017). The workplace is one sphere that is increasingly datafied. This study explores how Uber drivers, a form of digitally-enabled service workers, contribute to the normalization of the social production of space through their interpretative practices of digital data in an online forum. Drawing on Uber’s corporate discourse and an Uber driver online forum, we analyze two facets of the Uber app and drivers’ mediated experiences: (1) the quantification and discipline of drivers’ performance through Uber’s rating system and (2) the coordination of spatial movement through location-related metrics. We argue that the underlying workings of the Uber app premediate expectations of service encounters and spatial movement. Uber drivers meanwhile develop practices which respond to and circumvent their own data contributions to the system. Drivers’ practices, we argue, are largely in compliance with the calculative logics set by Uber. The article addresses implications of Uber drivers’ practices for the reproduction of social space and power-relations in digitally-enabled service work and the gig economy.

Suggested Citation

  • Ngai Keung Chan & Lee Humphreys, 2018. "Mediatization of Social Space and the Case of Uber Drivers," Media and Communication, Cogitatio Press, vol. 6(2), pages 29-38.
    • Handle: RePEc:cog:meanco:v:6:y:2018:i:2:p:29-38
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Ivanova, Mirela & Bronowicka, Joanna & Kocher, Eva & Degner, Anne, 2018. "Foodora and Deliveroo: The App as a Boss? Control and autonomy in app-based management - the case of food delivery riders," Working Paper Forschungsförderung 107, Hans-Böckler-Stiftung, Düsseldorf.
    2. Tóth, Zsófia & Nemkova, Ekaterina & Hizsák, Gábor & Naudé, Peter, 2022. "Social capital creation on professional sharing economy platforms: The problems of rating dependency and the non-transferability of social capital," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 144(C), pages 450-460.
    3. Vaclavik, Marcia Cristiane & Macke, Janaina & Faturi e Silva, Daniel, 2020. "‘Do not talk to strangers’: A study on trust in Brazilian ridesharing apps," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 63(C).
    4. André Jansson & Johan Lindell, 2018. "Media Studies for a Mediatized World: Rethinking Media and Social Space," Media and Communication, Cogitatio Press, vol. 6(2), pages 1-4.
    5. Ruiner, Caroline & Klumpp, Matthias, 2020. "Arbeitskräfte zwischen Autonomie und Kontrolle - Auswirkungen der Digitalisierung auf Arbeitsbeziehungen in der Logistik [Workforce between Autonomy and Control - Effects of Digitalization on Empl," Industrielle Beziehungen. Zeitschrift für Arbeit, Organisation und Management, Verlag Barbara Budrich, vol. 27(2), pages 141-159.

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