Invasive Species of the App Ecosystem: Exploring the Political Economy of Mobile Communication
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Invasive Species of the App Ecosystem : Exploring the Political Economy of Mobile Communication. / Lai, Signe Sophus; Flensburg, Sofie.
In: International Journal of Communication, Vol. 15, 2021, p. 2301–2318.Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Invasive Species of the App Ecosystem
T2 - Exploring the Political Economy of Mobile Communication
AU - Lai, Signe Sophus
AU - Flensburg, Sofie
PY - 2021
Y1 - 2021
N2 - The mobile market is frequently described as an ecosystem where powerful companies generate value from continuously harvesting and distributing data. In this article, we advance the ecological metaphor through both theoretical conceptualizations and empirical explorations of the contemporary app ecosystem. We thereby contribute to the emergent field of app studies by critically scrutinizing the political economy of mobile communication. The article identifies the prime infrastructural resources that ground app-based communication (devices, operating systems, app stores, apps, third-party services, and data accesses) and their ownership structures to discuss how power is obtained, exercised, and amplified in the app ecosystem. To illustrate the value of the theoretical approach, we provide a critical asset analysis of Google LLC (Alphabet, Inc.) and discuss its position as an invasive species in the app ecosystem.
AB - The mobile market is frequently described as an ecosystem where powerful companies generate value from continuously harvesting and distributing data. In this article, we advance the ecological metaphor through both theoretical conceptualizations and empirical explorations of the contemporary app ecosystem. We thereby contribute to the emergent field of app studies by critically scrutinizing the political economy of mobile communication. The article identifies the prime infrastructural resources that ground app-based communication (devices, operating systems, app stores, apps, third-party services, and data accesses) and their ownership structures to discuss how power is obtained, exercised, and amplified in the app ecosystem. To illustrate the value of the theoretical approach, we provide a critical asset analysis of Google LLC (Alphabet, Inc.) and discuss its position as an invasive species in the app ecosystem.
M3 - Tidsskriftartikel
VL - 15
SP - 2301
EP - 2318
JO - International Journal of Communication
JF - International Journal of Communication
SN - 1932-8036
ER -
ID: 261054468