Depop: evidence of the gig economy in all its glory
According to our Student Economist, Depop – a social network cum global marketplace - “is the perfect way to earn some extra money without having the commitment of a job.” A statement which perfectly captures the allure of the gig economy. But what is Depop and does it have a future as job-hopping and entrepreneurship become the new normal for ‘millennials’?
On the face of it, Depop is a social media network. The interface closely resembles image-sharing app Instagram, giving users their own profile pages and ability to explore trending items. Layered on top of this simple concept is a global marketplace, which has quickly become a popular way to buy and sell used clothes. The app, which was officially launched in 2013, now has over 13m registered users. For many young people, Depop’s design is appealing – anyone with an Instagram account will find it easy to use to view posts and send direct messages to sellers. Most sellers use PayPal (US:…