The Sharing Economy: Studying Technology-Mediated Social Movements

Abstract

The sharing economy is a term used to describe an IT-fueled, rapidly growing social movement around collaborative consumption. This movement has the potential to significantly affect economic opportunity and broader culture. In this research- in-progress paper, we pose as a key question: how does technology mediation of the sharing economy movement change over time? What explains this change, and what difference does technology mediation make? We draw upon the concepts of technology mediation, and computerization movements, in two comparative industry case studies: car sharing, and room sharing. We outline future research steps, and begin the process of critically examining the role of IT in social movement mediation. Is the sharing economy likely to create positive new economic alternatives? Or is it simply another strategy to intensify the role of global finance in everyday life, and fuel the high rates of growth demanded by venture-backed technology startups?