Social Capital, Platform Power, and the Private Authority of Big Tech Firms: Theorizing The Micro-Foundations of Platform Power Among Social Networking Sites

Abstract

In the era of digital globalization, Big Tech firms have emerged as pivotal non-state actors in International Relations (IR). A growing body of research theorizes the political influence of these firms through the concept of platform power, which emphasizes the unique combination of economic scale and intimate relationships with their users. Despite the analytical power of the concept, past work on the platform power of Big Tech firms obscures important differences among these firms. To improve our understanding of the foundations of Big Tech’s platform power, I focus specifically on Social Networking Sites (SNSs). SNSs are platforms that provide web-based services to enable individuals to create profiles, connect with others, and share information, opinions, and media. I argue that the micro-foundation of SNSs’ platform power is their exceptional capacity to foster social capital accumulation among their users. In turn, this cultivates loyal consumer bases and ultimately enables SNSs to wield significant private authority in global politics. I demonstrate the implications of this argument for how SNSs gain, maintain, and potentially lose private authority. This conceptual framework enhances our comprehension of Big Tech’s authority and helps further investigation into the normative implications, identity dynamics, and security concerns within this evolving landscape.