| Abstrakt: |
This article explores the exploitative nature of Wattpad, a free reading and writing platform that has become the largest database of user-generated fiction online. While scholars have studied Wattpad as part of participatory culture and an entertainment ecosystem, the author argues that these approaches overlook the exploitative nature of the industry and the impact of platform capitalism. Wattpad primarily targets young women and generates revenue through advertising, data collection, and content shaping. The platform acts as an intermediary between writers and the publishing industry, helping authors secure publishing deals and film adaptations. However, this model relies on the willingness of writers, predominantly women, to work for free or very little pay, contributing to the exploitation of creative labor in the publishing industry. The article also discusses the gendered nature of labor on the platform, the connection between mental health and self-publishing, and the implications of Wattpad's business model. [Extracted from the article] |
