Platform Precarity And Digital Labor Erosion

Abstract

The proliferation of platform-based work has fundamentally restructured contemporary labor markets, introducing new forms of economic precarity that challenge traditional employment protections. This paper examines the lived experiences of gig workers operating within app-based platforms, analyzing how algorithmic management, misclassification practices, and the erosion of labor rights create systemic vulnerabilities. Drawing on recent sociological literature and empirical studies from multiple geographic contexts, this research investigates the mechanisms through which platform capitalism perpetuates precarity while obscuring traditional employer-employee relationships. The analysis reveals that platform workers face irregular income streams, inadequate social protections, and algorithmic control systems that diminish worker autonomy while maximizing platform profitability. Findings indicate that these precarious conditions disproportionately affect marginalized populations, including migrants, women, and economically disadvantaged workers. The paper concludes by discussing the implications of platform labor for labor policy, collective organizing, and the future of work in digitally mediated economies.