We engage with recent applications of the Marxist "labor theory of value" to online prosumer practices, and offer an alternative framework for theorizing value creation in such practices. We argue that the labor theory of value is difficult to apply to online prosumer practices for two reasons. One, value creation in such practices is poorly related to time. Two, the realization of the value accumulated by social media companies generally occurs in financial markets, rather than in direct commodity exchange. In an alternative framework, we offer an understanding of value creation as based primarily on the capacity to initiate and sustain webs of affective relations, and value realization as linked to a reputation based financial economy. We argue that this model describes the process of value creation and appropriation in the context of online prosumer platforms better than an approach based on the Marxist labor theory of value. We also suggest that our approach can cast new light on value creation within informational capitalism in general. © 2012 Copyright Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.

Arvidsson, A., Colleoni, E. (2012). Value in Informational Capitalism and on the Internet. THE INFORMATION SOCIETY, 28(3), 135-150 [10.1080/01972243.2012.669449].

Value in Informational Capitalism and on the Internet

COLLEONI, ELANOR
Secondo
2012

Abstract

We engage with recent applications of the Marxist "labor theory of value" to online prosumer practices, and offer an alternative framework for theorizing value creation in such practices. We argue that the labor theory of value is difficult to apply to online prosumer practices for two reasons. One, value creation in such practices is poorly related to time. Two, the realization of the value accumulated by social media companies generally occurs in financial markets, rather than in direct commodity exchange. In an alternative framework, we offer an understanding of value creation as based primarily on the capacity to initiate and sustain webs of affective relations, and value realization as linked to a reputation based financial economy. We argue that this model describes the process of value creation and appropriation in the context of online prosumer platforms better than an approach based on the Marxist labor theory of value. We also suggest that our approach can cast new light on value creation within informational capitalism in general. © 2012 Copyright Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.
Articolo in rivista - Articolo scientifico
affect; data mining; finance; informational capitalism; Marx; reputation; social media; value; Cultural Studies; Information Systems; Management Information Systems; Political Science and International Relations
English
2012
28
3
135
150
reserved
Arvidsson, A., Colleoni, E. (2012). Value in Informational Capitalism and on the Internet. THE INFORMATION SOCIETY, 28(3), 135-150 [10.1080/01972243.2012.669449].
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10281/66024
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