DeepSummary
The episode features an interview with Nora Kenworthy, an associate professor who studies crowdfunding for healthcare. She discusses the reality behind crowdfunding campaigns, which often fail to raise substantial amounts and perpetuate inequalities in who receives funding. Crowdfunding platforms amplify successful campaigns and reinforce societal biases around who is deemed 'deserving' of support.
Kenworthy cites examples of people who struggled with the crowdfunding process, feeling ashamed to ask for help or facing scrutiny when their campaigns went viral. She argues that crowdfunding individualizes systemic issues like lack of healthcare access and distracts from pursuing broader policy solutions.
While crowdfunding allows people to contribute small amounts to those in need, Kenworthy contends that it primarily makes donors feel they have done something without truly addressing underlying problems. She suggests harnessing the desire to help others towards advocating for stronger social safety nets.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- Crowdfunding medical expenses often fails to raise significant funds for most campaigners.
- Crowdfunding platforms and social media algorithms amplify successful campaigns while many desperate cases receive little support.
- Societal biases around who is deemed 'deserving' of charity are perpetuated through crowdfunding.
- The public scrutiny and need to share intimate details when campaigns go viral can be uncomfortable for fundraisers.
- While allowing people to contribute small amounts, crowdfunding distracts from pursuing policy solutions for universal healthcare access.
- Crowdfunding platforms are profitable businesses that may have incentives misaligned with campaigners' interests.
- The emotional desire to help others through crowdfunding could be better channeled towards advocacy for stronger social safety nets.
- Crowdfunding individualizes systemic issues and reinforces a societal ethic of 'selective deservingness' rather than universal rights.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “What we do know is that they are valued at billions of dollars and have made enormous acquisitions without having to get a lot of investment capital. And so that probably indicates to us that they are tremendously successful. They make a percentage off of every campaign donation, and then they also charge what they call a tip on donations.“ by Nora Kenworthy
- “I think that crowdfunding reflects this tremendous outpouring of concern, of care. I think yearning for connection, and I think there are such better ways that we can harness that to improve the systems that are harming all of us.“ by Nora Kenworthy
- “And a lot of people were sort of hounding her and contacting her through all kinds of private channels, trying to get details on this story, trying to get access to the family. Yes, their campaign raised a ton of money.“ by Nora Kenworthy
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Episode Information
What Next: TBD | Tech, power, and the future
Slate Podcasts
5/19/24