Can digital platforms support moralized markets? An analysis of affordances that matter to moralization

Abstract

The affordances offered by digital platforms may support the formation and maintenance of moralized markets – defined as markets that are undergirded with explicit moral principles that guide the interactions between market actors. In this paper, we draw on key tenets from recent advances in affordance theory, identifying social media platform affordances that support the moralization of digital markets. We develop insights based on qualitative data from the context of Norwegian digital local food markets, with focus on the role of digital affordances. We theorize particular ‘moral affordances’ that matter in the moralization of markets. We conclude by considering the possible outcomes that the increasing use of digital platforms may have for the moralization of contemporary markets.