Definition:
Community exploitation is the extraction of trust, labour, money, legitimacy, or emotional energy from a group by leveraging shared identity, solidarity, or belonging for asymmetric benefit.
Usage Context:
Seen in affinity fraud, influencer culture, grassroots movements, creator economies, religious or cultural groups, and platform-driven communities.
Critical Note:
Community exploitation is often disguised as mutual support, opportunity, or empowerment. Harm is intensified because trust is relational, and resistance risks social exclusion or moral guilt rather than simple refusal.
Related Terms:
Affinity Fraud, Trust Leveraging, Cultural Capture, Legitimacy Laundering, Exploitation