A Twitch TV e o capitalismo de plataforma: um estudo sobre o mundo dos streamers

Abstract

We understand that Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) play a central role in the structural transformation of capitalism in the last decades of the 20th century. The arrival of the internet in everyday life has led to significant changes in forms of social interaction and labor dynamics. With this in mind, this research aims to investigate the work of streamers on the Twitch TV platform, in order to characterize aspects of platform capitalism and the consequences of the uberization process in the universe studied. The research adopts a mixed methodological approach, involving participant observation in the virtual environment of the lives and the application of questionnaires directed at the streamers. The immersion in the platform made it possible to understand how it works, while the questionnaires collected data related to experiences, working hours, income, investments and relationships between the platform, streamers and users. The results contribute to an understanding of work relationships mediated by digital platforms, highlighting how the platform capitalism model impacts the organization of work, workers' rights and the future prospects of this emerging form of occupation.