Here are definitions from Merriam-Webster online dictionary, but what is your take?

Exploitation (noun): an act or instance of exploiting Exploit (verb): 1.) to make productive use of; 2.) to make use of meanly or unfairly for one’s own advantage

Monetization (verb): 1.) to coin into money; 2.) to purchase (public or private debt) and thereby free for other uses moneys that would have been devoted to debt service; 3.) to utilize (something of value) as a source of profit

  • Edit - revised title to “Is there a difference…” from “What is the difference…”
  • Smokeydope@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    A artist/creator putting a price tag on their creative work is monetization.

    A big pharma insulin maker charging diabetics 5x what they should because they know there’s high demand and people will literally die if they don’t fork up the cash is exploitation.

    Monetization is assigning economic value to an physical asset.

    Exploitation is artificially inflating the economic value of a resource necessary for survival and forcing a population of people into a position where they must give all of their generated value just to live. People need food, water, shelter, and sometimes life sustaining medicine. Most other things are nice convinences but entirely optional. Putting a million dollar price tag on an art piece isn’t exploitation, putting a 100$ price tag on a gallon of water would be.

    • Sibbo@sopuli.xyz
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      1 year ago

      Well said. I would still say, that exploitation can also happen with things not necessary for survival. Say a TV or a viral app. If a company finds something that sells at a very high markup and then uses that to get rich, it’s exploitation, if the conical does not need the money. Of course, they could e.g. donate it, then it’s fine. But if it just goes into the pocket of the owner, it’s exploitation.