Governance Practices of Digital Platforms from the Perspective of Fluidity Governance: Mechanisms, Challenges, and Transformations— An Analysis Based on Actor-Network Theory

Abstract

From the perspective of Actor-Network Theory (ANT), the governance of digital platform fluidity essentially manifests as a translational practice mechanism involving multiple heterogeneous actors, including digital platform enterprises, digital platform users, governments, and other businesses. This translational practice mechanism can be divided into four stages: problematization, interesement, enrollment, and mobilization. In current digital platform governance practices, these diverse human and non-human factors are interconnected and imbued with the meaning of fluidity governance, giving rise to multiple challenges in the translational practice: first, the disorder of the translational space within the context of fluid spaces; second, divergences in inter-subjective network relationships caused by the singularization of actors; and third, the deficiency of "obligatory passage points" in translation due to structural blockages. Consequently, in response to the practical demands of governing digital platform fluidity, it is imperative to address the challenges of translational practice in the new era by focusing on spatial integration, actor connection, and structural efficiency enhancement. This involves exploring strategies to optimize the actor-network of digital platforms, thereby promoting the transformation of modern social governance systems and capabilities.