New Frontiers in Platform Governance

Platform governance is essential to platform success – let alone a fair division of the surplus that platforms generate. Platforms compete both for final users, and for complementors, participants whose financial success depends on platform uptake. Motivating all sides of the platform to join – be they dependent on it or not – is important. As consequence, the question of platform governance, which defines how platforms shape and motivate interactions amongst users, is becoming increasingly critical. Recently, we have seen an upsurge of interest in new, alternative ways of governing platforms, such as by decentralizing decision making or creating completely new organizational forms. Our symposium aims to tack stock of these emerging conversations. In doing so, we hope to advance discussions on novel governance forms. Four distinguished platform scholars will present the state-of-the-art in regard to platform governance, critically reflect on the potential presented by new forms of governance and foreseen barriers, and engage with audience members.