Youth Labor in the Platformization Era: Flexibility or Precarity

Abstract

This study explores the work conditions and resilience strategies of young freelancers in the digital-creative economy within the broader context of platformization, which simultaneously generates employment and fosters new forms of labor informalization. The analysis draws on the concepts of decent work, and agency theory to examine the dynamics of flexibility, control, and worker agency in platform labor. A qualitative research design was employed using in-depth interviews with young freelancers. Data were analyzed through thematic analysis to capture patterns in work experiences and adaptive strategies. Results indicate that platform systems promote flexible work arrangements but also intensify control over workers. Employment conditions often fail to meet decent work standards. Resilience emerges through collective practices, yet these remain fragmented and largely oriented toward individual survival rather than structural solidarity. This study deepens the understanding of precarious youth labor and highlights the paradoxes of flexibility and domination in platform economies.