Don’t blame the platform

I refer to the commentary “Is Uber taking us for a ride?” (Dec 22).

Uber has often been portrayed in a bad light, in particular after an alleged rape by an Uber driver in New Delhi. Some countries have also the service.

Uber has argued that it is only a service that matches demand and supply, and beyond that, its responsibility ends. I agree with this statement. Take Carousell, for example. I am an active user of Carousell, where normal consumers like us can list items for sale to other consumers. At times, the items I purchased were not up to my expectations. However, the app helped me grow my entrepreneurial skills. It acts as a platform for us, and we are the ones responsible for our transactions.

Uber is the same. It serves as a platform. The fact that Uber is operating in 53 countries and 200 cities shows the demand for such an app and the convenience it brings.

If we want to use technology to bring about greater convenience, we have to be prepared for unexpected situations. We should not blame technology for any danger that arises, given that undesirable situations can happen anywhere and at any time. Such situations are not solely caused by apps, but by those using them.