Tech Won't Save Us GoFundMe Profits from People’s Pain w/ Nora Kenworthy
May 30, 2024
Nora Kenworthy, author and associate professor, discusses the reliance on GoFundMe for healthcare costs, exposing inequalities. They dissect societal reliance on crowdfunding, stigma around public support, and the need for systemic change in healthcare financing.
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A Viral Campaign Became Political Fodder
- Louis Lang's viral GoFundMe became politicized and attacked despite his falling into coverage gaps.
- Nora used the case to show both left and right make harsh judgments about deservingness.
Platforms Reward Shareability Over Need
- Digital campaigns must appeal to broad online audiences and rely on platform algorithms and cross-media spread.
- That dynamic privileges content that travels well, not necessarily the most needy cases.
GoFundMe Profits From Crisis Data
- GoFundMe is a for-profit health technology harvesting crisis data while opaque about its data uses.
- The platform monetizes tips and cuts, and potentially valuable health metadata remains private.