Platform Providers Research Articles

The Gig Economy and Young Graduates' Career Preferences: Between Freelancing and the Entrepreneurial Mindset

The expansion of the gig economy has introduced freelancing as a compelling career path for university graduates seeking autonomy, flexibility, and value-aligned work. However, the transition from traditional employment aspirations to freelance entrepreneurship is shaped by complex psychological and social mechanisms that remain underexplored. This study develops and tests a structural model of freelance entrepreneurial intention by integrating the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) with entrepreneurial identity and self-efficacy. Data were collected from 254 university graduates and analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). The results demonstrate that attitude toward freelancing, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control significantly influence the development of entrepreneurial identity. Entrepreneurial identity, in turn, strongly predicts the intention to pursue freelance work. While perceived behavioral control also directly affects intention, self-efficacy shows limited influence, suggesting that role internalization and social validation are more critical than confidence alone. Interestingly, subjective norms affect intention indirectly through identity rather than directly. This study contributes to entrepreneurship research by highlighting identity as a key mediating mechanism within non-traditional entrepreneurial pathways. The findings have practical implications for universities, policy-makers, and platform providers aiming to support sustainable freelance careers. Interventions emphasizing identity development—alongside skills and opportunity access—may better equip graduates to navigate the uncertainties of gig-based self-employment.

The Effects of Social and Spatial Presence on Learning Engagement in Sustainable E-Learning

E-learning offers sustainable opportunities for university students by improving educational accessibility and inclusion; however, research exploring learning engagement to ensure continuous learning quality from the perspective of presence remains limited, especially concerning spatial presence and its combined effects with social presence. The purpose of this study is to investigate how social presence and spatial presence interact to predict learning engagement in sustainable e-learning, as well as to determine whether perceived enjoyment mediates these relationships. A total of 442 Chinese university students participated in a self-report survey. Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was used to test the conceptual model, indicating that both social presence and spatial presence play a significant positive role in e-learning engagement, with perceived enjoyment confirming its positive role as an important partial mediator. The findings make contributions to empirical research on learning engagement by optimizing presence-related factors and positive emotions in sustainable e-learning. The implications suggest that instructors and platform providers can enhance engagement by improving social presence, spatial presence, and perceived enjoyment, as outlined in the proposed solution model “social presence and spatial presence → perceived enjoyment → learning engagement”. However, due to limitations such as self-reported data, a cross-sectional study design, and cultural context, future research could incorporate behavioral data, longitudinal studies, and explore responses from diverse cultural backgrounds.

LABOUR RIGHTS PROTECTION FOR YOUNG WORKERS ON DIGITAL LABOUR PLATFORMS: AN ISLAMIC PERSPECTIVE

The development of digital labour platform resulted from the growth of digital economy and has transformed the world of work. However, the progress of platforms has stagnated due to various issues arising in the employment relationship between platform providers and young workers. These issues include wages, compensation and benefits, working hours, rest days, leave and public holidays. Young workers often face unfair treatment by platform providers while performing their tasks. The research objectives of this study are twofold: firstly, to analyse the labour rights of workers from an Islamic perspective and secondly, to explore how the labour rights of young workers on digital labour platforms can be improved through Islamic principles. A qualitative method is employed to achieve these objectives. The content analysis method is used to analyse secondary sources relevant to this study. The main sources of this research are the Qur’an, hadith and journal articles. Additionally, the Employment Act 1955 (Act 265) and the Children and Young Persons Employment Act 1996 (Act 350) are also analysed to reach the objectives of this study. The findings of this study show that Islam promotes justice in the employment relationship between employer and employee. Consequently, existing legislation must be improved to ensure labour protection for young workers on digital labour platforms. This study contributes to the theoretical framework of labour rights by expanding the discussion to include digital labour platforms and young workers. Furthermore, it explores the Islamic perspective on labour rights for young workers on digital labour platforms.

Unwanted Social Media Comments? The Tricky Business of Managing Online Hostility in Influencer Marketing

Abstract Influencers need to balance their tolerance for negative and even insulting comments with followers’ expectation of being approachable. When they decide to disable their comment section, they effectively prevent cyberbullying but also cut off consumers’ highly valued method of voice expression. This is critical, as it not only impacts how consumers view the influencer but also how willing they are to support brand partners: Users become less inclined to engage with an influencer’s sponsored brand content or accept promo codes. To prevent backlash, user communication around disabling comments is key. Negative effects can be reduced when influencers discuss mental health issues leading to the decision to disable comments. But negativity should also be addressed by platform providers, such as by designing additional platform features to protect influencers from hate speech. For brand endorsements, it is important to ensure ongoing communication between influencers and brand partners to discuss potential consequences of critical influencer decisions.

How does trust impact e-commerce adoption among Vietnamese vendors: PLS-SEM approach

With the explosion of Industry 4.0, e-commerce plays a pivotal role in developing vendors in Vietnam, especially since the demand for online shopping is rapidly increasing and becoming familiar to customers. Extending the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) framework, a widely accepted theoretical framework in technology adoption, this study investigates the significant determinants of adopting e-commerce platforms among Vietnamese vendors. The research identifies Perceived Usefulness (PU), Perceived Ease of Use (PE), Trust (TR), and Data Security (DS) as the determinants shaping adoption behavior by focusing on their effects on PU and PE. The collected data was analyzed using a quantitative approach, employing Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) data from 515 Vietnamese vendors. The study presents the results by measuring the intention to use e-commerce, analyzing the data, and adjusting the scale of the intention to use e-commerce by surveying the research subjects with four factors and twenty observed variables. This process involved rigorous statistical analysis and validation techniques to ensure the reliability and validity of the findings. The results indicate that Trust is a vital mediating factor in the relationship between PU, PE, and DS, as well as behavioral intention, emphasizing its centrality in e-commerce adoption. Trust acts as a bridge that enhances the perceived usefulness and ease of use of e-commerce platforms while mitigating data security concerns. Data security emerges as a major driver that gains Trust and simultaneously reduces the perception of fraud and data breaches. Policymakers, platform providers, and business leaders can leverage the insights from this research to foster Trust, ensure data security, and enhance regulatory knowledge for sustainable e-commerce adoption. By integrating external factors into the TAM framework, this study significantly contributes to the literature on e-commerce adoption, paving the way for open innovation in e-commerce in Vietnam and other emerging markets in Asia.

키워드 네트워크와 토픽모델링을 활용한 디지털교과서에 대한 언론보도 분석

Objectives This study analyzed discourses related to digital textbooks in domestic media reports from 2007 to 2024. Methods To this end, data were collected from BIGKINDS, a domestic media report data provision platform, with keywords such as ‘digital textbook’ and ‘AI textbook’, and keyword frequency analysis, co-occurrence network analysis, and topic modeling were performed using the R program. Results Digital textbooks were linked to various issues in terms of policy, education, and technology, and keywords such as ‘education’, ‘digital’, ‘AI’, ‘school’, and ‘content’ appeared mainly in keyword frequency analysis. Topic modeling analysis derived 10 major topics such as digital infrastructure construction, AI-based learning innovation, resolving the education gap, digital content development, and policy support. Conclusions This study systematically analyzes media discourses on digital textbooks to suggest implications for future education policies and textbook development directions.

Alternative digital platforms: comparative analysis through the lens of Corporate Aikido

Abstract Competing with dominant players in the digital platform (DP) economy is an increasingly complex and expensive endeavor for alternative digital platform (ADP) providers trying to disrupt established platform ecosystems. Nevertheless, ADPs position themselves deliberately in the competitive space of large competitors, targeting customer groups whose values and mindsets differ from mainstream DPs. Although there are many examples to find in practice, the variety of ADPs across different DP ecosystems and industries, especially in regards of strategic objectives, directions and characteristics, has not been researched in-depth yet. Based on a systematic, practice-based artifact review, this paper analyses and compares 105 ADPs in the competitive space of dominant DP ecosystem players. The study utilizes the theory of Corporate Aikido as an analytical framework, mapping the strategic elements of overthrowing established value propositions and turning a competitors’ strengths into weaknesses. Our findings indicate that privacy- and security-awareness, empowerment and inclusivity, premium quality and curation, open source and free access, uncensored, transparent and decentralized platforms as well as ecological and climate-friendly offers shape the landscape of alternative approaches in today’s DP economy. The results are subsequently discussed, yielding managerial implications and future opportunities for DP research.

The Role of Marketplaces in Assisting MSME Growth Using the Systematic Literature Review Method

Digital technology provides significant opportunities for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to grow and innovate, contributing to national economic growth. This study aims to analyze the role, impact, and supporting factors of marketplaces in fostering MSME development in Indonesia. Using the Systematic Literature Review (SLR) method, 103 journals were identified through Publish or Perish via Crossref for the 2019–2024 period. These journals were then filtered down to 40 journals selected for descriptive analysis. The 2019–2024 timeframe was chosen as it reflects a significant surge in marketplace adoption during the COVID-19 pandemic.The findings reveal that marketplaces significantly enhance MSMEs by increasing market reach by up to 40%, improving operational efficiency through a 30% reduction in order processing time, and building customer trust through reviews and ratings. The study also highlights the importance of supporting factors such as adequate digital infrastructure, digital literacy, and support from the government and platform providers. However, challenges such as limited internet access, low digital literacy, high commission fees, and intense competition with larger brands hinder the optimal use of marketplaces by MSMEs.This study recommends several practical solutions, including strengthening digital infrastructure, subsidizing internet costs, providing digital literacy training, and offering special promotion programs for small MSMEs. Although this study relies on secondary data, the findings provide relevant insights for policymakers, platform providers, and MSME actors. Further studies using primary data are needed to enhance the generalizability of these findings.

Implementation of the Customs Digital Transformation Policy Using the Ceisa 4.0 System to Improve Customs and Excise Services

The Directorate General of Customs and Excise is evolving the information technology system. Since the introduction of the Customs Fast Release System (CFRS), the CEISA 4.0 application has been used. The CEISA 4.0 application continues to be developed to improve customs and excise services. This means that internal and external policymakers must continue adapting to changes in existing applications. This makes us research to analyse the implementation, obstacles, and efforts involved in implementing the CEISA 4.0 system. The research method used is qualitative analytical descriptive with data collection techniques of observation, interviews and documentation. Interviews were conducted with 20 informants: Customs, Platform Providers and Service Users. The research results show that the implementation of CEISA 4.0 is still under development and is not fully running perfectly because there are still business processes that are not/have not been touched by the CEISA 4.0 program. In some cases, bugs are still encountered and/or system stability has not been properly maintained. However, it has been running efficiently where customs and excise obligations are fulfilled paperless; it can be done anytime and anywhere. The HR capabilities of DJBC and service users still require training in operating CEISA 4.0 because several tools are not yet familiar regarding the standards, policy targets and characteristics of the implementing organisation, namely that the implementation of the rules has gone well using a clear legal basis and rules.

Exploring user engagement and perceptions towards smart energy applications in Norway: Insights from a text mining analysis of user reviews

Smart energy applications can be powerful tools for two-way communication between energy providers and end-users. These apps offer real-time usage insights and present consumption data through intuitive and visually appealing interfaces. In parallel, these platforms allow users to provide ratings, reviews, and comments directly within or via app provision platforms, thereby helping energy providers improve their overall services. Long-term engagement with such energy apps could benefit sustainable energy consumption practices, as such digital platforms can empower users to make informed energy-efficient choices. Nonetheless, there is a lack of a systematic approach to analysing users’ engagement towards such smart energy apps and users’ opinions about their practical functionalities and features. This study examines how users interact with smart energy apps, assess their functionalities, and share their opinions through ratings, reviews, and comments. It offers unique insights into end-user perspectives through advanced text-mining techniques incorporating word analysis, sentiment analysis, topic modelling, and exploratory qualitative analysis. By analysing over 3,000 publicly available user-generated reviews, the research identifies patterns such as monitoring energy consumption, managing appliances, and integrating smart home features like EV charging. The findings highlight diverse motivations for app engagement, extending beyond cost savings to include empowerment, convenience, and alignment with sustainability goals. While users express predominantly positive sentiments about the app’s intuitive design, real-time feedback, and gamification features, reviews also reveal areas for improvement, emphasizing the importance of user-centred design in enhancing app usability and functionality. The findings provide actionable insights for improving app design, advancing smart energy solutions, and informing energy efficiency and conservation initiatives.

Is it time for India to set social media age limits for adolescents?

The rapid integration of social media into the lives of Indian adolescents presents a complex mix of benefits and challenges, particularly in the realms of mental health, online safety, and digital literacy. While age restrictions or outright bans may offer protections against risks like cyberbullying, exposure to harmful content, and increased screen time, they also carry potential drawbacks, including digital exclusion, disruption of peer support networks, and limited access to educational and mental health resources. This viewpoint article examines the multifaceted challenges of implementing social media age restrictions in India, considering the diversity in digital literacy, sociocultural factors, and infrastructural disparities between urban and rural areas. Recognizing these complexities, the article proposes alternative approaches, including comprehensive digital literacy programs, enhanced parental involvement, age-appropriate content moderation, and flexible, phased access to social media. By advocating for a balanced, collaborative approach involving policymakers, educators, parents, and platform providers, this article emphasizes the importance of creating a safe yet empowering digital environment that nurtures responsible online engagement. Such a nuanced policy framework would allow Indian adolescents to safely benefit from the positive aspects of social media while minimizing risks, ultimately fostering a generation of resilient, informed digital citizens.

Use of digital facilitation to support the use of digital services in general practice in England: An interview study with key stakeholders.

Digital services in primary care are becoming more common, yet access to and use of services can create inequities. Our aim was to explore the drivers, priorities, and evolving policy context influencing digital facilitation in primary care as reported by national, regional and local level stakeholders in England. We conducted online semi-structured qualitative interviews with stakeholders, including those in NHS England organisations, local commissioners for health care, statutory and third sector organisations, those working within the research community, and digital platform providers. Interviews were analysed using a thematic approach. The majority of stakeholders worked in national level roles, in commissioning or statutory and third sector organisations working in relation to digital inclusion and patient access. Demographic inequalities, poor usability of digital primary care services, and low digital skills were perceived to comprise some of the barriers facing patients in accessing and using digital primary care services. Demand pressures in general practice, inconsistent training opportunities in digital services for staff, and conflicting perceptions around who should be responsible in organising digital facilitation were reported as barriers in the organisation and provision of digital facilitation in primary care. Stakeholders shared future visions for digital primary care and recommended focusing on establishing the concept of digital facilitation and promoting the benefits in its adoption. Policy that is specific to digital facilitation and not just to digital services is required to establish clear lines of responsibility, investment in staff time and training, and the development of digital services that work well for various groups of patients and practice staff. A multi-organisational working team involving decision-makers and those working on the ground in general practice is encouraged to establish principles for supporting patients and staff in accessing and using digital primary care services in the NHS in England.

PTF-FSR: A Parameter Transmission-Free Federated Sequential Recommender System

Sequential recommender systems, as a specialized branch of recommender systems that can capture users’ dynamic preferences for more accurate and timely recommendations, have made significant progress. Recently, due to increasing concerns about user data privacy, some researchers have implemented federated learning for sequential recommendation, a.k.a., Federated Sequential Recommender Systems (FedSeqRecs), in which a public sequential recommender model is shared and frequently transmitted between a central server and clients to achieve collaborative learning. Although these solutions mitigate user privacy to some extent, they present two significant limitations that affect their practical usability: (1) They require a globally shared sequential recommendation model. However, in real-world scenarios, the recommendation model constitutes a critical intellectual property for platform and service providers. Therefore, service providers may be reluctant to disclose their meticulously developed models. (2) The communication costs are high as they correlate with the number of model parameters. This becomes particularly problematic as the current FedSeqRec will be inapplicable when sequential recommendation marches into a large language model era. To overcome the above challenges, this article proposes a parameter transmission-free federated sequential recommendation framework (PTF-FSR), which ensures both model and data privacy protection to meet the privacy needs of service providers and system users alike. Furthermore, since PTF-FSR only transmits prediction results under privacy protection, which are independent of model sizes, this new federated learning architecture can accommodate more complex and larger sequential recommendation models. Extensive experiments conducted on three widely used recommendation datasets, employing various sequential recommendation models from both ID-based and ID-free paradigms, demonstrate the effectiveness and generalization capability of our proposed framework. To facilitate future research in this direction, we release our code at https://github.com/hi-weiyuan/PTF-FSR .

Factors Influencing Young Workers Towards Digital Labour Platform

Technological advancement has transformed the lives of people in every aspect. The disruption can be reflected in the employment relationship between employer and employee in the digital labour platform. Digital labour platforms existed before the COVID-19 pandemic and continue to evolve in the world of work. Due to the flexibility offered in gig economy, it has attracted workers to work in digital labour platforms, predominantly young workers. However, the lack of labour rights and social security protection for workers in digital labour platforms has withdrawn the young workers from the labour market. This study aims to investigate the factors influencing young workers to work in digital labour platforms and the challenges they faced while working on digital labour platform. In this study, a qualitative approach in the form of a semi-structured interview is adopted to reach the objectives of this study. Five young workers between the ages of 18 and 24 years old working on digital labour platforms were interviewed for this research. Thematic analysis is used to analyze the data. Research shows that young persons are attracted to work on digital labour platforms because of flexible working arrangements and high earnings. The findings of this study extend the discussion on gig economy by focusing on digital labour platform. Practically this study provides insight into digital labour platforms, benefiting platform providers on how they can improve their platform and attract more workers to work on their platforms.

Insider imitation with product differentiation

Online marketplace providers such as Amazon may also offer own-brand products, in this way competing with third-party traders on their platform. Moreover they may exploit nonpublic data on third-party sales to identify opportunities for profit and design their own products, thus engaging in a form of partial imitation that is exclusive to them. Such an asymmetry in the ability to imitate has led to advocating for stricter regulation of online platforms in order to limit their ability to exploit nonpublic data. I propose a dynamic simulation model to study the effects of insider imitation by a platform provider under product differentiation. Using different parametrizations, I am able to show how such a market may evolve in time with or without the presence of insider imitation under different initial conditions. The model also allows to account for subsequent innovation via imitation (which I refer to as copy-and-be-copied dynamics), an aspect not considered by previous studies. These results add to the existing literature and cast further doubts on current regulatory approaches aiming at limiting data exploitation. Results suggest that the presence of insider imitation is unlikely to lead to smaller consumer welfare and larger market concentration and should not be banned on the grounds of standard antitrust concerns.

The U.S TikTok Case – Will A Unified Federal Data Protection Laws and Apt Stewardship from TikTok resolve the issues?

By means of literature research and comparative research, this paper seeks to look at governments emphasis on data protection, and the tough laws formulated to protectits citizens and how social media platforms are playing their stewardship rolein ensuring data owners (users) are protected. The paper explores how seriously governments take data protection and the strict laws they have in place to protect their citizens, as well as the guardianship role social media platforms play in ensuring data owners (users) are protected. At the same time, this article also discusses the alternative of TikTok proposed by the United States to deal with concerns about the security of citizens' data. This paper seeks to look at alternatives to the US proposal of the ownership of TikTok due to fear of data security of its citizens. It is a fine case to study personal data protection policies and what social media platform providers are doing to ensure they meet the growing tough data protection laws of governments around the world. B In this article, our data stewards will be the social media platforms and the owners will be users of those platforms and governments of those individuals. It is particularly important to know about these two because of the growing concerns about data security and privacy; and the risk it poses to individuals and organizations; and nations. Countries are coming out with tougher laws and social media platforms have already paid billions in fines because these two items were not professionally managed. Meta, TikTok and X (formerly Twitter) have been fined over $3 billion for General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) violations in 2023 1 .

The Role of Digital Technology in Empowering Women in Oman

Digital empowerment of women is the process of enhancing women's abilities and skills using technology so they can contribute to the economy and society. This research examines how digital technology might improve Omani women's access to education, employment, and entrepreneurial opportunities, highlighting the benefits and challenges of this empowerment. Finding the factors that have led to Omani women's success and analysing how they use digital technologies to empower themselves both personally and professionally are the objectives of the study. By combining statistical analysis, qualitative and quantitative research, and a review of the literature, the study investigates how women in Oman use digital technology. To advise platform providers, educators, and the business community on how to promote women's support and digital inclusion, it looks at recent studies and current models. Along with successful examples of digital empowerment, the research discusses the challenges women have in accessing and effectively using technology. For Omani women, this article provides useful recommendations for enhancing digital empowerment to advance gender equality and sustainable economic growth. To support this empowerment, it also calls for additional government funding and neighbourhood initiatives.

Determinants of Online Transportation Adoption: An Extended UTAUT2 Model with Loyalty Program

This study investigates the factors influencing the adoption of online transportation services, focusing on loyalty programs within the UTAUT2 framework. Online transportation platforms, such as Gojek and Grab, have revolutionized service delivery in Indonesia, yet customer retention remains a challenge. Utilizing an extended UTAUT2 model, this research incorporates constructs like Hedonic Motivation, Price Value, and Habit, alongside moderating variables such as Age, Gender, and Experience. Data from 413 active users in Medan City were analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) via SmartPLS 3. Results highlight the critical role of loyalty programs in enhancing user engagement and retention by boosting behavioral intentions and actual usage behaviors. Findings offer actionable insights for platform providers to optimize marketing strategies and improve customer loyalty through tailored program designs.

AI and machine learning for detecting social media-based fraud targeting small businesses

Social media has become an essential tool for small businesses in the digital age, offering unprecedented marketing and customer engagement opportunities. However, this widespread use also exposes these businesses to a growing threat of social media-based fraud. This review paper explores the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning in detecting and mitigating such fraud. It examines the common types of social media fraud targeting small businesses, the evolving tactics employed by fraudsters, and the challenges in detecting these fraudulent activities due to the dynamic nature of social media platforms. The paper delves into various AI and machine learning approaches for fraud detection, including the use of advanced algorithms, Natural Language Processing (NLP), and real-time anomaly detection. Furthermore, it discusses the integration of AI tools with social media platforms, highlighting the role of APIs, data privacy concerns, and the benefits of automation and continuous learning systems. Finally, the paper outlines future trends and provides recommendations for small businesses, emphasizing the importance of adopting AI-based solutions and the roles of policymakers and platform providers in supporting these technologies. By synthesizing current knowledge and offering actionable insights, this paper aims to enhance the understanding of AI-driven fraud detection in social media and provide guidance for small businesses seeking to safeguard their operations.

Dampak Konsumerisme Berupa Judi Online di Indonesia: Perspektif Ekonomi, Sosial, dan Mental

Online gambling consumerism in Indonesia has increased rapidly along with technological advances and wider internet access. This study aims to analyze the impact of online gambling consumerism from economic, social, and mental perspectives. From an economic perspective, online gambling can bring financial benefits to platform providers, but it also has negative consequences such as loss of community income and increased economic burden due to irresponsible gambling. Socially, this phenomenon has the potential to damage family structures, increase crime rates, and create social stigma for gambling addicts. From a mental perspective, online gambling can trigger addiction, depression, and other mental disorders, resulting in a decline in the quality of life of individuals. Researchers used quantitative methods by surveying 30 people. This study provides insight into the challenges faced by individuals and society related to online gambling consumerism and suggests the need for more effective social interventions and public policies to address this issue. With a better understanding of these impacts, it is hoped that appropriate mitigation efforts can be carried out to create a healthier and more prosperous society. Keywords: Consumerism, Online Gambling, Impact of Online Gambling, Impact of Consumerism