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Towards a new social media model: redistribution of power in the subscription-based creator economy
Markova, Snezhanna ; Roraback, Erik Sherman (advisor) ; Vichnar, David (referee)
This thesis evaluates the potential viability of the subscription-based creator economy by analysing three subscription creator platforms, Substack, Nebula and Patreon. Drawing on Bernard Stiegler's work in the sphere of digital technologies, this study argues that the alternative mode of information dissemination demonstrated by these platforms presents a more equal distribution of power between the players in the creator economy and a healthier, more thoughtful content creation and consumption, in contrast to the algorithmic distribution of information of the traditional advertiser-driven social media networks. The research focuses on delineating the circumstances which led to the political and spiritual malaise of modern online generations described by Stiegler and examines how subscription-based platforms attempt to combat the harmful effects of major social networks. The creator economy is an integral part of almost every online interaction, therefore evaluating alternative economic models can be the key to improving the declining quality of the online user experience. The use-case analysis will involve assessing the business model, as well as the impact on the relationship between the creator, consumer and the IT platform, employing the digital labour theory proposed by Christian Fuchs....
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