http://www.economist.com/news/technology-quarterly/21572914-collaborative-consumption-technology-makes-it-easier-people-rent-items
Many of the popular peer to peer sharing sites include rooms, boat and car rentals. However they are not the only things you can borrow. Musical instruments, car parking spaces, etc are all being shared. There are also peer to peer taxi services in place. However regulations are slowly creeping into the new sharing economy. Sites like Lyft and Sidecar were sued by California Public Utilities Commission because it did not provide evidence of property damage insurance. It was ruled that the companies can continue to operate while new rules are being put into place.
I don't think that any of this would be possible today without the invention of social networking sites. Many of the peer to peer sites let people link their social networking sites to the sharing websites. It helps put people's minds at ease and promotes sharing. I believe that people would rather get a service from a person they can connect to rather than a faceless company.
Yes, social networking definitely made the sharing economy a reality. But I, like Mr. Rothenberger, feel that a sharing economy would ultimately reduce Americans to peasants who own very little and pay to share everything. While the sharing economy would have some benefits, it would move society backwards in some ways.
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