Purpose Digital platforms (DP) are transforming service delivery and affecting associated actors. The position of DPs is impacted by the regulations. However, emerging economies often lack the regulatory environment to support DPs. This paper aims to explore the regulatory developments for DPs using the multi-level perspective (MLP). Design/methodology/approach The paper explores regulatory developments of ride-hailing platforms (RHPs) in India and their impacts. This study uses qualitative interview data from platform representatives, bureaucrats, drivers, experts and policy documents. Findings Regulatory developments in the ride-hailing space cannot be explained as a linear progression. The static institutional assumptions, especially without considering the multi-actors and multi-levels in policy formulation, do not serve associated actors adequately in different times and spaces. The RHPs regulations must consider the perspective of new RHPs and the support available to them. Non-consideration of short- and long-term perspectives of RHPs may have unequal outcomes for established and new RHPs. Research limitations/implications This research has implications for the digital economy regulatory ecosystem, DPs and implications for policymakers. Though the data from legal documents and qualitative interviews is adequate, transactional data from the RHPs and interviews with judiciary actors would have been insightful. Practical implications The study provides insights into critical aspects of regulatory evolution, governance and regulatory impact on the DPs’ ecosystem. The right balance of regulations according to the business models of DPs allows DPs to have space for growth and development of the platform ecosystem. Social implications This research shows the interactions in the digital space and how regulations can impact various actors. A balanced policy can guide the paths of DPs to have equal opportunities. Originality/value DP regulations have a complex structure. The paper studies regulatory developments of DPs and the impacts of governance and controls on associated players and platform ecosystems.

Social media networking sites (SNS) provide multiple applications to individuals to fulfil their needs. This paper explores the LinkedIn platform’s opinion formation, uses and gratifications and how professionals use it. The research aim was achieved by using LinkedIn data and social media analytics. We identified eight uses and gratification of SNS: information sharing, social interaction, communication, expression of opinions, convenience utility, surveillance/knowledge about others, information seeking, and enhancements. The study also establishes the associations between the type of content, user groups, and potential benefits to drive the discussion on the social media platform. The opinion formation and uses and gratifications on LinkedIn are associated with professional needs. This research contributes to practice and theory.

Digital platforms have transformed businesses. Over-The-Top (OTT) platforms, for example, Netflix, Amazon Prime, Google enter the entertainment industries. As a result, existing media players imported this concept to develop their own OTT Media Platforms (OMP). With the supportive environment, OMP has grown many folds for instance, in India, there are almost 40 different OTT platforms. OMPs are competing for new markets, new customers, technologies, and sustaining existing businesses. Therefore, to sustain and grow in this competitive field, OMP should understand customers’ preferences and factors to grow businesses. This study investigates the customers’ Willingness to Use New OTT Media Platforms (WUNO). The study is based on the survey results of 1310 respondents from 11 Indian states. Willing to use new OMP (WUNO) is influenced by the content, subscription, age, language, time spend on OMP, and current usage on OMP. Individual choices and OMP features characterize the current usage and WUNO. Usage is preferred when OMP features are presented as a combination of the WUNO model and personalized as per the customers. The study findings are useful for the existing and new OTT platforms. It is contributing to the literature of OTT media  platforms.

The business models of the emerging digital economy supposedly provide equal opportunities to all stakeholders in the market. Contrary to this, we argue in this chapter that structural inequalities exist in digital economy interactions. Using the case of ride-hailing platforms (RHPs) Uber and Ola in New Delhi, India, we show that the projected symbiotic relationships between the RHP, the drivers, and the customers are not equally beneficial. Specifically, our study focuses on the rating mechanisms that constitute algorithmic governance within RHP platforms. Our study uses data collected through qualitative interviews with RHP drivers in New Delhi and a sample of the drivers’ rating data. The study finds that drivers bear the brunt of consequences within the rating systems. The algorithm appears to replicate traditional critiques of the interactions between workers and employers under capitalism. The mechanism of discipline via the rating systems exerts considerable power over the drivers, but not their customers.

Social media has become an important means for communication to promote content sharing and social networking. The usage of social media has opportunities and challenges. This article aims to highlight the ways through which individuals authenticate fake news while using social media platforms. To explore the patterns of fake news authentication on social media, online and offline surveys were conducted to get 231 responses. Social media users at the individual level authenticate fake news at two levels: internal – individual discernment and perceptiveness about news, sources and popularity of news, and external – friends and relatives, multiple external sources, formal and social spheres. This study provides insights into the usage patterns of social media platforms and ways of fake news authentication. The insights from the study might help social media platforms, governments, users and researchers.

Research Problem: The Global South faces challenges in successfully integrating rural population in its development interventions. The government of India is using information and communication technologies (ICTs) based solutions to bridge the developmental gaps, which range from building digital infrastructure to delivering e-services. In this process, one of the principal actors, Village Level Entrepreneurs (VLEs), called as digital intermediaries play a significant role in filling the digital divide gap enabling the linkage between citizens and the government through ICT led interventions.

Purpose: This study examines the current status of digital integration of five Indian state governments' departments' websites with social media platforms and suggests improvements for better customer engagement. Approach: Content analysis of 259 government departments' websites was done to understand their integration with social media platforms, in top five populated states. The analysis on customer engagement was done in the light of Open Government Maturity Model. Findings: While examining the websites, it is observed that despite the digital infrastructure of the government, the reach seems to be towards a particular kind of audience rather than for all citizens. The analysis of top five departments' websites from each state with presence of maximum number of social media platforms links showed absence of linkage with social media platforms. Originality and value: Analysis of the presence and digital integration social media platforms of five state departments' websites was done till 1 May 2017. This research will provide insights about the status and need to design a framework to use social media platforms in Indian public system for citizen engagement. (C) 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.