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Beyond Convenience: The Human Toll of Delivery Apps
25 Jan
Summary
- Gig workers face fear and vulnerability within algorithmic systems.
- Consumer entitlement fuels a cycle of instant gratification and worker pressure.
- Technology in the gig economy removes human accountability.
Filmmaker Nandita Das and author Vandana Vasudevan recently convened in Kolkata to discuss the often-unseen human impact of India's rapidly expanding gig economy. Their conversation, held at a literary festival, focused on how app-driven labor, such as food delivery and quick commerce, is shaped by algorithms and consumer expectations.
Das shared that her concern for delivery workers grew during the pandemic, a period highlighting their essential role alongside their increased vulnerability. She noted that the fear embedded in the system deeply affected riders, who often apologized for minor delays. Vasudevan characterized the current delivery culture as a peak of consumer pampering, where instant gratification is the norm, and platforms cater to endless desires.
Both speakers emphasized that the gig economy's design often obscures human accountability. Workers are managed by apps and algorithms, with grievances typically handled through automated systems. However, they stressed that consumers wield significant power through their ratings and complaints, urging greater awareness. Das concluded that storytelling's aim is to foster empathy and expose societal complicity, questioning our willingness to acknowledge the human cost of technological convenience.
