Definition:
The process of deriving profit, data, labour, or behavioural insight from individuals or communities, often without proportional return or consent.
Usage Context:
Used in critiques of capitalism, platform economics, labour relations, data economies, creator platforms, and institutional systems where value is systematically extracted from people, communities, or shared resources without proportional return.
Critical Note:
Value extraction reframes participation as a resource to be mined. It frequently operates invisibly, embedding itself into everyday actions and relationships while externalising costs onto individuals or society.
Related Terms:
Exploitation, Commodification, Surveillance Capitalism, Platform Power, Creator Economy Exploitation