The Essence, Causes, and Solutions to the Problem of Digital Labor Alienation

In the digital age, changes in production methods have given rise to a new form of labor known as digital labor. As a concrete manifestation of labor in contemporary society, digital labor inevitably faces the issue of alienation. Through the possession and application of digital technology, digital capital creates the "illusion of freedom" to achieve the comprehensive alienation of labor time and space. Moreover, through spiritual conditioning and the unconditional possession of digital assets, it facilitates the "voluntary alienation" of unpaid workers. Digital capital further delves into the depths of digital labor alienation by incorporating the emotional labor of digital workers into the logic of capital appreciation. Behind the issue of digital labor alienation lies a relentless pursuit of surplus value by capital. The Marxist interpretation of the processes of capital proliferation and labor alienation remains applicable to the analysis of digital labor alienation. The continuous production of digital goods under the logic of capital will not immediately eradicate the phenomenon of digital labor alienation. Therefore, it is essential to provide potential solutions to the problem of digital labor alienation from three perspectives: establishing and improving legal norms for digital labor and digital asset distribution systems, reasonably guiding the application of digital technology to enhance productivity, and challenging the hegemonic discourse of digital capital platforms.