Difference between revisions of "Depop"
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Recently, especially among younger people, there has been growing awareness of Depop sellers and their impact on thrift stores. Named ‘thrift store gentrification,” this process is mainly centered around thrift stores raising their prices. For the most part, the blame for this issue falls upon Depop sellers and occasionally other online resellers (source). This issue is widely debated, and there is not a lot of current research on this topic. | Recently, especially among younger people, there has been growing awareness of Depop sellers and their impact on thrift stores. Named ‘thrift store gentrification,” this process is mainly centered around thrift stores raising their prices. For the most part, the blame for this issue falls upon Depop sellers and occasionally other online resellers (source). This issue is widely debated, and there is not a lot of current research on this topic. | ||
| − | Reselling thrifted items has been around since the 1990s (source), and was also present on eBay before Depop (source). In 2004 it was noted due to the stigmatization of thrift stores in popular media, middle-income shoppers feel more comfortable buying from thrift stores. They also often benefit greatly from the reduced prices and use shopping at thrift stores “as a way to resist a culture of consumption and disposability,” (source). The specific impact of Depop on this phenomenon is not known. | + | Reselling thrifted items has been around since the 1990s (source), and was also present on eBay before Depop (source). In 2004 it was noted due to the stigmatization of thrift stores in popular media, middle-income shoppers feel more comfortable buying from thrift stores. They also often benefit greatly from the reduced prices and use shopping at thrift stores “as a way to resist a culture of consumption and disposability,” (source). The specific impact of Depop on this phenomenon is not known. |
| + | ===Feminization of work=== | ||
| + | Along with other forms of online reselling, Depop faces the issue surrounding its feminization of labor, both as a social media application and a reselling platform. While exact user statistics are not known, Similar apps, like Poshmark have noted that registered users tend to be primarily female, with 97% of respondents to a survey identifying as female. Among users without accounts, the amount of women seems to be only slightly higher than men, at 52% and 47% respectively (source). Depop founder Simon Beckerman notes they found a large customer base within “girls who want to sell their whole wardrobe,” and that “girls love [depop],” (source). | ||
| + | |||
| + | This creates many ethical issues with how women exist within the labor system Depop has created. It is noted in a study done on female online resellers that this labor system can both subvert and enforce existing gender norms. With a focus on creating and maintaining customer relationships and networks, this process of reselling goods online can be incredibly burdening. It is specifically noted that reselling items “is complicated by the emotional labor women must assume in managing their business personae and maintaining flows of communication online,” and “traditional female ‘‘virtues’’ and gender roles are often deployed by the resellers both subjectively and objectively to mitigate excessive commercialism and justify mercantile interests” (source). | ||
| + | |||
| + | Moreover, Depop emphasizes the importance of a professional brand, both on the app and on other social media applications (source). This can be ethically complicated as creating a reselling brand is largely based on “classed and gendered identities, experiences, networks, and bodies” (source). The large social media presence sellers are expected to have influences the fact that sellers must lead public lives and must be constantly available for customers. The concept of being constantly available mirrors Flirids concept of “ontological friction” and in a porous network such as Depop, sellers face frictionless information and an erosion of their “right to ignore” (source). | ||
| + | ===Workers rights=== | ||
| + | Many sellers on Depop are labeled as bedroom entrepreneurs (source), however, Depop still takes a 10% cut of all sales (source). While not directly gig workers, these sellers, who labor to earn Depop profit, do not receive any benefits or job security and can earn varying amounts. Some more popular shops are known to earn upwards of $150,000 a year, meanwhile, most users earn significantly less, often equating to the minimum wage (source). Another problem is that this work is always shown as being flexible but oftentimes requires constant availability (source). While not a traditional gig economy, Depop shares many features and ethical concerns, despite labeling its users as entrepreneurs. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===Sexual Harassment=== | ||
| + | |||
| + | Akin to many other social media platforms, Depop users regularly share stories of sexual harassment. While Depop has a messaging feature, it is mostly for sellers and buyers to interact: however, users often face problems of sexual harassment within these messages (source). With a large number of its users being under the age of 20 this can pose a large threat (source). | ||
Revision as of 17:48, 10 March 2021
Depop Is an online clothing marketplace and social shopping platform that enables users to buy used and new clothing from their internet-enabled device. Depop was founded in 2011(source) and was moved to London in 2012 (source). Depop is incredibly popular among younger generations, with 80% of users being under 25, and among Americans, with 38% of its residing in the United States (source). Depop is available for both desktop and mobile, [more filler sentences]. Depop has many features, including allowing users to create a profile and virtual shop, in addition to purchasing and exploring items for sale. Depop also recommends clothing items based on your style and allows you to follow and interact with other users (source). Several ethical issues have arisen on the platform mostly surrounding how users interact with and use the platform.
Contents
History
Depop was founded in 2011 and was brought to iOS devices in 2013 (source). It was founded by Simon Beckerman who later stepped down as CEO in 2013 (source). He is still on the board. The app was originally developed to be a shop selling items from Simon Bekerman’s magazine PIG, and a website was added later (source)(source). Depop was designed to function as both a social media platform and online marketplace, and Beckerman noted Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest as sources of inspiration(source). Additionally, Depop was designed to attract “young designers, cool collectors, small shops and little brands,” however its current user base is primarily filled with younger shoppers and women (source).
Features
selling on depop
Depop requires you to have an account to both buy and sell items. In order to sell, you have to set up your shop within the app, and then you can list items. There is an emphasis on entrepreneurship as Depop founder Simon Beckerman notes the app is like “having your store in your pocket” and CEO Maria Raga notes users can “start a business from their bedroom” (source)(source). Each listing can have four photos. Depop encourages users to model their items and also encourages branding and promoting individual shops on other social media platforms. They also support and verify their top sellers and often give them more exposure (source).
Ethical Issues
Many ethical issues have arisen in relation to Depop, with some gaining more traction than others. These issues can impact both sellers and buyers.
Reselling thrifted clothing
Recently, especially among younger people, there has been growing awareness of Depop sellers and their impact on thrift stores. Named ‘thrift store gentrification,” this process is mainly centered around thrift stores raising their prices. For the most part, the blame for this issue falls upon Depop sellers and occasionally other online resellers (source). This issue is widely debated, and there is not a lot of current research on this topic.
Reselling thrifted items has been around since the 1990s (source), and was also present on eBay before Depop (source). In 2004 it was noted due to the stigmatization of thrift stores in popular media, middle-income shoppers feel more comfortable buying from thrift stores. They also often benefit greatly from the reduced prices and use shopping at thrift stores “as a way to resist a culture of consumption and disposability,” (source). The specific impact of Depop on this phenomenon is not known.
Feminization of work
Along with other forms of online reselling, Depop faces the issue surrounding its feminization of labor, both as a social media application and a reselling platform. While exact user statistics are not known, Similar apps, like Poshmark have noted that registered users tend to be primarily female, with 97% of respondents to a survey identifying as female. Among users without accounts, the amount of women seems to be only slightly higher than men, at 52% and 47% respectively (source). Depop founder Simon Beckerman notes they found a large customer base within “girls who want to sell their whole wardrobe,” and that “girls love [depop],” (source).
This creates many ethical issues with how women exist within the labor system Depop has created. It is noted in a study done on female online resellers that this labor system can both subvert and enforce existing gender norms. With a focus on creating and maintaining customer relationships and networks, this process of reselling goods online can be incredibly burdening. It is specifically noted that reselling items “is complicated by the emotional labor women must assume in managing their business personae and maintaining flows of communication online,” and “traditional female ‘‘virtues’’ and gender roles are often deployed by the resellers both subjectively and objectively to mitigate excessive commercialism and justify mercantile interests” (source).
Moreover, Depop emphasizes the importance of a professional brand, both on the app and on other social media applications (source). This can be ethically complicated as creating a reselling brand is largely based on “classed and gendered identities, experiences, networks, and bodies” (source). The large social media presence sellers are expected to have influences the fact that sellers must lead public lives and must be constantly available for customers. The concept of being constantly available mirrors Flirids concept of “ontological friction” and in a porous network such as Depop, sellers face frictionless information and an erosion of their “right to ignore” (source).
Workers rights
Many sellers on Depop are labeled as bedroom entrepreneurs (source), however, Depop still takes a 10% cut of all sales (source). While not directly gig workers, these sellers, who labor to earn Depop profit, do not receive any benefits or job security and can earn varying amounts. Some more popular shops are known to earn upwards of $150,000 a year, meanwhile, most users earn significantly less, often equating to the minimum wage (source). Another problem is that this work is always shown as being flexible but oftentimes requires constant availability (source). While not a traditional gig economy, Depop shares many features and ethical concerns, despite labeling its users as entrepreneurs.
Sexual Harassment
Akin to many other social media platforms, Depop users regularly share stories of sexual harassment. While Depop has a messaging feature, it is mostly for sellers and buyers to interact: however, users often face problems of sexual harassment within these messages (source). With a large number of its users being under the age of 20 this can pose a large threat (source).
