Economic Quote by Nicholas G. Carr
“By putting the means of production into the hands of the masses but withholding from those same masses any ownership over the product of their work, Web 2.0 provides an incredibly efficient mechanism to harvest the economic value of the free labor provided by the very, very many and concentrate it into the hands of the very, very few.”
About This Quote
Source Article: “The Big Business of Web 2.0,” The Atlantic, 2010
Concentrating ownership while giving masses access to production tools creates a system where few profit from many’s free labor.
In simple terms: Few profit from many’s free labor in Web 2.0.
Key Takeaway
Demand fair ownership models for digital labor.
Themes
economics
power
digital labor
Mood
critical
analytical
Type
economic
social critique
When to use this quote
- freelance work
- content creation
- software development
- online marketplaces
Key Concepts
platform capitalism
exploitation
wealth concentration
Questions to Reflect On
- How can creators retain ownership of their digital work?
- What alternatives ensure equitable profit sharing?
A Different Perspective
The model can stifle innovation by demotivating contributors.
![“Just between you and me, shouldn’t the World Bank be encouraging MORE migration of the dirty industries to the LDCs [Less Developed Countries]?... I think the economic logic behind dumping a load of toxic waste in the lowest wage country is impeccable and we should face up to that... I’ve always…” quote by Lawrence Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ac4/lawrence-summers-16940_air_just-between-you-and-me-shouldn-t-the-wo_4703.jpg)
