This is really low for a for-profit company to pull. "We won't pay you, but we will use you to make more money". Jesus, at least pay their conference tickets, hotels or travels.
It really isn’t. It’s as much playing to market dynamics as employment is. The reality is that plenty of influencer wannabes are going to jump at the opportunity to do this. Privileged influencer wannabes, mind you. Let’s not spin this as some Marxist class struggle without first looking at it with some perspective.