Eating through the screen
food consumption mediated by delivery platforms in Brazil
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15448/1980-3729.2026.1.48876Keywords:
delivery platforms, media-cultural mediation, digital consumption, performativity, sociotechnical ecosystemAbstract
This article analyzes how food consumption mediated by delivery platforms is organized in Brazil, considering its social and cultural implications in the platform economy. The research is based on the analysis of secondary data on use and consumption, including order volume, most requested categories, average spending, frequency of use, and penetration by social class and region. From these indicators, consumption patterns on the country’s main platforms are examined, with emphasis on iFood and Rappi. The results show that delivery presents economic, social, and cultural dimensions: operational metrics and visibility strategies organize the circulation of products and establishments, while usage patterns reveal territorial and socioeconomic inequalities. It is concluded that the platforms structure food consumption practices in digital environments, articulating market logics, attention, and visibility, and configuring a sociotechnical ecosystem that reorganizes food practices in contemporary Brazil.
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