Autonomy’s Mirage: How Fauxtonomy Fuels Workers’ Frustration in the Gig Economy

This study explores how the interplay between perceived autonomy and dependence in online crowdwork shapes workers’ perceptions of fairness and frustration. Promises of autonomy entice workers to crowdwork, yet these promises often mask deeper dependencies on platforms and requesters. This study finds that high autonomy, when coupled with high dependence, may have adverse effects on fairness and frustration. These findings contribute to a more nuanced understanding of the interplay between autonomy and dependence in online crowdwork. Workers with low autonomy are less affected by dependence, while those with high autonomy are more likely to perceive platforms as operating unfairly when coupled with high dependence. These findings support the fauxtonomy hypothesis, demonstrating how autonomy, under conditions of dependence, creates a sense of false self-employment and amplifies worker frustration. Addressing these disparities is critical to ensuring fair treatment and reducing frustration among platform workers, especially for those who feel trapped in high-dependence situations.