Framing the sharing economy: A media analysis of ridesharing platforms in Indonesia and the Philippines

Abstract

Few studies on ridesharing have so far been conducted in developing countries. To explore this, the present paper presents a frame analysis of news content on ridesharing platforms in Indonesia and the Philippines. We identify five distinct frames, perceiving ridesharing as a (1) commuter solution, (2) unregulated public transport service, (3) cooperative business, (4) non-conformity solution, and (5) informal livelihoods. We show how these frames emerge from a particular developing-economy context characterized by gridlock problems in densely populated cities, the utilization of “informal transport” as a gap-filler, and an emphasis on collectiveness. The paper furthermore argues that the identified frames shape different policy responses to ridesharing in Indonesia and the Philippines, which 1) address the absence of legal status; 2) ease traffic congestion. The paper concludes that these responses are driven primarily by commercial and legal concerns rather than sustainability concerns.