Raissa Sales’s online PhD defense takes place on the 17th December, at 2:00 p.m., with the topic Infocommunication and digital platforms in the sharing economy: a multicase study about the trust in sustainable contexts | Infocomunicação e plataformas digitais na economia de partilha: um estudo multicasos sobre a confiança em contextos sustentáveis
Raissa Sales is a student of the PhD programme in Information and Communication in Digital Platforms and her supervisor is Vania Baldi (DigiMedia, UA).
DigiMedia members are invited to participate in this important moment.
Abstract:
This research analyses the recent emergence of trust and participation relationships formed online and conducted digitally, in the sharing of goods and services, and thus propose good communication practices and reliable information sharing, to facilitate a collaborative culture within that network. It considers the trust and shared interests formed online between users of the digital platforms Volunteers Base, The Poosh and WWOOF Portugal, focusing on the exchange of skills and knowledge and the digital sharing of ‘lifestyles’ based on a culture of sustainability. The primary focus of this investigation is to analyse the experiences of ‘sharing’ between those who offer to work, without financial remuneration, as a volunteer, in exchange for acquisition of certain skills, a better social life and to expand their contacts, with those hosts willing to teach, accommodate and pass on their understanding in order to receive help in their social space. A qualitative and exploratory approach forms the foundation of the methodology for collecting and interpreting data, derived from observation across three digital platforms, content analysis of 104 host profiles, a survey of 110 individual volunteers and collaboration with 11 designated experts. The role of these digital platforms in ‘the sharing economy’, aim to mediate the relationships between users through an info-communication system, capable not only of linking a network of users, but, above all, look to inspire trust among the users using tools of information and mechanisms that ensure faith in the system. Intercommunication between users facilitated by these digital platforms, by use of these tools and resources, is also the way in which these sharing experiences are being promoted and reflects the degree of commitment of these organizations to their users. The fact that transactions of exchange, sale, rental, or donation take place between peers (directly between the actors within the sharing economy and without intervention by a traditional company), modifies the procedural logic of consumption, but does not entirely eliminate organizational interests, these organizations that truly strive to allow a better use of resources (technological, social, or environmental) consequently create more sustainable practices. In general, the investigated digital platforms manage their content to guarantee open access to information for users, while minimally seeking to ensure data and privacy. User safety is one of the main issues raised from the perspective of trust in the digital platform. However, these digital platforms do create a culture of participation imbued with social values common to both volunteers and hosts that makes trust essential for a collaborative lifestyle. To build trust in this context, takes as its starting point, the expectation of reciprocity, backed-up by the commitments of strangers who seek to experience a way of life based on non-commodified, non-financial exchange. Although this type of sharing still seems eccentric for some, to others the opportunity is part of a learning process and the formation of ethical-social bonds. The reciprocal agreement between users can be defined by various interpersonal, cognitive, and subjective indicators. From this, one can see the implicit formation of a social pact between the actors involved, based on the teaching, and learning of skills related to sustainability and reinforced by shared experiences mediated within the network. Trust can therefore be built from shared experiences and collaborative lifestyles, as maintained by the community of volunteers and hosts, and supported by digital platforms designed for this purpose. In light of this, the proposal of good info-communicational practices in the context of a collaborative culture in a network, was strategic, in order to explore its best dynamics and socio-technical conditions. This construct was based on a set of 16 guidelines proposed for the success of sharing practices. It is hoped that this investigation, given the evidence of a collaborative ethos, can promote a participatory culture of good digital practices, fostering the intersection between academic discussions, the policies of the analysed platforms and the interested institutions.
To participate follow the link: https://videoconf-colibri.zoom.us/j/88112625338
More information available HERE
