Divided we fall: The breakdown of gig worker solidarity in online communities

Abstract

The‘gig economy’presents a contested new workarrangement where freelancers find work on digitalplatforms. Subsequently, previous research has investi-gated how gig workers develop solidarity and takecollective action against the exploitative practices ofthe platforms. However, this research is limited bymostly focusing on solidarity in contexts oflocalgigworker communities. We investigate whether free-lancers who work on a global platform, Upwork, whichhires people for diverse and complex jobs, can build upsolidarity in aglobalonline community. Applying amixed‐methods research design, we analysed how gigworkers responded to a policy change by Upwork thataffected their working conditions negatively. In doingso, we outline how solidarity breaks down in an onlinecommunity of gig workers, due to them realisingdifferent interests and identities. We contribute torecent discussions on solidarity in the gig economy,and online communities as tools for organising