This chapter explores the phenomenon of employee desertion as a form of worker agency, particularly within the context of precarious jobs in large corporations. It draws on social media platforms like Reddit and TikTok to supplement traditional interview data, revealing a widespread trend of workers publicly expressing their dissatisfaction and reclaiming agency through quitting. This chapter highlights the “Great Resignation” of 2021–2023, where record numbers of workers voluntarily left their jobs, signaling a shift in attitudes towards work. Social media platforms have become crucial spaces for workers to share their experiences and critiques. Reddit communities like r/walmart, r/target, and r/antiwork facilitate open dissent, with workers sharing stories of exploitation and celebrating acts of quitting. TikTok has also played a significant role in popularizing “quit videos,” where workers publicly announce their resignations, often accompanied by critiques of their employers. These videos, exemplified by figures like Shana Blackwell Ragland and Beth McGrath, have garnered millions of views and inspired others to quit. These online expressions constitute a “hidden transcript” of worker resistance, revealing growing anti-corporate sentiments and a desire for meaningful employment. Quitting is framed as a form of political action, enabling workers to reclaim dignity and challenge exploitative corporate practices. The chapter argues that “quit videos” embody a contemporary form of heroism, where individuals risk economic instability to publicly denounce corporate injustices, acting as altruistic figures for a broader working-class community. This challenges the prevailing capitalist “work ethic,” revealing a shift towards valuing personal autonomy and communal solidarity over corporate loyalty.

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Disobedience and Desertion on Social Media

  • Noah Shuster

摘要

This chapter explores the phenomenon of employee desertion as a form of worker agency, particularly within the context of precarious jobs in large corporations. It draws on social media platforms like Reddit and TikTok to supplement traditional interview data, revealing a widespread trend of workers publicly expressing their dissatisfaction and reclaiming agency through quitting. This chapter highlights the “Great Resignation” of 2021–2023, where record numbers of workers voluntarily left their jobs, signaling a shift in attitudes towards work. Social media platforms have become crucial spaces for workers to share their experiences and critiques. Reddit communities like r/walmart, r/target, and r/antiwork facilitate open dissent, with workers sharing stories of exploitation and celebrating acts of quitting. TikTok has also played a significant role in popularizing “quit videos,” where workers publicly announce their resignations, often accompanied by critiques of their employers. These videos, exemplified by figures like Shana Blackwell Ragland and Beth McGrath, have garnered millions of views and inspired others to quit. These online expressions constitute a “hidden transcript” of worker resistance, revealing growing anti-corporate sentiments and a desire for meaningful employment. Quitting is framed as a form of political action, enabling workers to reclaim dignity and challenge exploitative corporate practices. The chapter argues that “quit videos” embody a contemporary form of heroism, where individuals risk economic instability to publicly denounce corporate injustices, acting as altruistic figures for a broader working-class community. This challenges the prevailing capitalist “work ethic,” revealing a shift towards valuing personal autonomy and communal solidarity over corporate loyalty.