PIRATES IRL & ONLINE
What does “social factory” mean in simple terms?
Work isn’t just at jobs anymore — it happens everywhere, even online and in our free time.
What does “social factory” mean in simple terms?
Work isn’t just at jobs anymore — it happens everywhere, even online and in our free time.
When your favorite app asks for a password, what kind of control system is that?
A digital access control — part of the “society of control.”
What’s an example of a show or app that feels “free” but still makes money off you?
TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Spotify (ad-based).
If you post on TikTok or YouTube for fun but the app makes money off your views, what kind of labour is that?
Unpaid digital labour.
If you post on TikTok or YouTube for fun but the app makes money off your views, what kind of labour is that?
Unpaid digital labour.
What’s one everyday way people “resist” tech control?
Using ad blockers, VPNs, or pirated software to get around paywalls.
How do memes act like digital “commons”?
They’re shared, remixed, and owned by no one — a creative community space.
How does social media blur the line between “working” and “relaxing”?
We think we’re relaxing, but we’re actually creating content and data that platforms profit from.
How does social media blur the line between “working” and “relaxing”?
We think we’re relaxing, but we’re actually creating content and data that platforms profit from.
What popular [DARK] Netflix show highlights how surveillance and tech control people’s lives?
Black Mirror — each episode shows extreme versions of digital control and lost autonomy.
When fans share a Taylor Swift concert video online, what kind of digital act is that (according to Mueller)?
A small act of piracy/resistance — sharing culture outside corporate limits.
Can you think of a celebrity who turned their personal life into a brand (example of the social factory)?
Answers can vary: Kim Kardashian, MrBeast, Charli D’Amelio, etc.
Can you think of a celebrity who turned their personal life into a brand (example of the social factory)?
Answers can vary: Kim Kardashian, MrBeast, Charli D’Amelio, etc.
What’s a “digital commons,” and why protect it?
Shared online creativity — it keeps knowledge free.
What’s one way fans, creators, or hackers keep digital culture open today?
Open-source projects, fan edits, remix culture, community archives, etc.