I'm still confused, because you are not giving any example or explanation for "one of those things". As soon as you tell somebody how to make their money, outs

I'm still confused, because you are not giving any example or explanation for "one of those things". As soon as you tell somebody how to make their money, outside of government regulations, you are in fact an employer. Which is different from a contractual work where you can define requirements. In the case of Uber/Lyft (and other Gig economy for that matter) you do not sign a contract with each transaction you do with them. Therefore, your contract with them, it's to pick up and drive users of the platform under terms set by the platform. This is obviously an employer - employee relationship.