Research on the Phenomenon of Younger Digital Workers on the Short Video Platform

Abstract

With the development of new media technology and mobile devices, short videos have gradually become popular. However, behind the seemingly prosperous scene is the loss of subjectivity for children and adolescents in the bizarre virtual world shaped by short videos. Based on this phenomenon, this paper uses the concept of "digital labor" from the political economy of communication and uses in-depth interviews and content analysis to study the media behavior of young digital laborers on short video platforms. Finally, it concludes that the essence of minors' addiction to short videos is the unlimited exploitation of surplus value by the platforms. They actively compete for discourse power in the online world while becoming puppets of traffic in the trend of imitation and following, ultimately being trapped in an alienated childhood with abnormal growth practices.