Communications in Humanities Research ISSN: 2753-7072
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Research Article

Labor Control in the Platform Economy from an Ideological Perspective

Chenguang ZhangSchool of Sociology and Political Science, Shanghai University, Shanghai, China*

* Corresponding author: [email protected]

Abstract

With the rapid development of information technology, the platform economy has fundamentally transformed traditional labor relations, creating paradoxical conditions for workers. While delivery couriers ostensibly enjoy unprecedented flexibility in daily work arrangements, they simultaneously confront increasingly sophisticated labor control mechanisms embedded in digital platforms. This article focuses on labor control regimes within the platform economy, using China's food delivery industry as a critical case study. By incorporating Žižek’s theory of the dialectics of desire—particularly his ideological critique of how systems shape subjective aspirations—the research provides a novel lens to examine labor control dynamics in the gig economy. The study bridges critical theory with empirical analysis of food delivery platforms, systematically investigating how algorithmic management systems structurally constrain worker autonomy while ideologically framing such constraints as opportunities for "self-optimization." Through analyzing the interplay between technological governance, performative incentives, and ideological narratives, the article illuminates the transformation of industrial relations under digital capitalism. It ultimately seeks to dissect the power asymmetry between workers and platforms, expose how technological tools enforce labor discipline, and propose frameworks for balancing labor rights protection with sustainable platform development. Additionally, the research extends the application of desire theory to contemporary platform-mediated labor conflicts, enriching both critical philosophy and labor studies discourses.

Keywords: platform economy; labor control; ideology; worker subjectivity
Published: April 7, 2025
DOI: 10.54254/2753-7064/2025.21766
Volume: CHR Vol.53
pp. 67-72
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