Digital Barriers: How Tech is Reshaping Unions | Freddy Reiber | TEDxYouth@DoverSherbornHighSchool
Freddy Reiber examines how modern technologies, from workplace surveillance to gig platforms, are reshaping the labor movement. Drawing connections between the workers of the 19th century & today, he shows how digital systems can limit solidarity while also offering a vision for worker-centered innovation. His talk encourages us to rethink technology as a tool for empowerment instead of control. Freddy Reiber is a third-year Ph.D. student in the Computing & Data Science program at Boston University, advised by the fantastic Dr. Allison McDonald. His research centers on the intersections of labor and technology with a particular focus on how organized labor responds to rapid technological change. He investigates systemic barriers that prevent labor organizations from effectively leveraging technology and explores how tech-facilitated work can contribute to the marginalization of workers. Freddy’s broader academic interests lie in second-order questions surrounding the dynamics of technology and power, examining who technology benefits and how. He prioritizes human-driven, qualitative methods to gain deeper insights into these issues. Additionally, Freddy has engaged in research within the political economy of technology and computer science education, enriching his interdisciplinary approach. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
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