A trend referred to as the "Young Indian Method" has gained traction on social media platform TikTok. Despite its benign name, this method involves exploiting skilled workers from developing countries for profit.

The Young Indian Method, a form of digital slavery, entails hiring young workers, often from countries like India, to perform various tasks for businesses located in wealthier nations. 

These workers are typically compensated at lower rates, exploiting currency exchange differentials and maximising profit margins through inexpensive labor.

Recently, a PDF document promoting this method emerged, priced at $9, advocating for the exploitation of Indian workers. 

The document provides instructions on how to maximize productivity from these workers, including suggestions such as keeping them "hungry" for better performance.

While some may perceive this trend as satirical, it has garnered real-world attention and utilization. 

Influencers, such as EnardEcom, have actively promoted the Young Indian Method on platforms like TikTok and YouTube, despite facing criticism.

Exploitation on Online Platforms

Fiverr, a popular freelance platform, has become a focal point for labor exploitation. Workers from developing countries often receive disproportionately low compensation for tasks that would command higher rates in developed nations.

Similarly, Upwork, another prominent freelance platform, presents challenges for workers from economically disadvantaged regions. 

They frequently accept lower wages due to competition from counterparts in wealthier nations, perpetuating exploitation.

Content mills, which connect writers with clients seeking content, are also implicated in labor exploitation. Writers from developing countries often receive minimal compensation for their work, well below standard rates in more affluent regions.

Disparity in Salaries

Comparing salaries of professionals like graphic designers or digital marketers in the USA to those on platforms like Fiverr or Upwork reveals significant disparities. 

Professionals in the USA typically earn higher wages compared to individuals offering similar services on freelance platforms.

For instance, a contractor on Upwork may offer only $6 for writing 1000 words, a rate that is considerably lower than industry standards. 

Similarly, a market research job on the platform may have a budget as low as $10 for several days of work, failing to reflect the true value of the labor involved.

Companies like OpenAI have come under scrutiny for paying measly cents to data modellers and AI trainers in countries like Kenya. 

A TIME investigation uncovered that OpenAI, in its efforts to improve the toxicity levels of ChatGPT, employed outsourced laborers from Kenya who earned less than $2 per hour. 

These workers were engaged through Sama, a San Francisco-based firm that operates in Kenya, Uganda, and India. It specializes in data labeling services for prominent Silicon Valley clients such as Google, Meta, and Microsoft.

Similarly, Remotasks and WordAgents have faced criticism for their refusal to pay workers, citing bankruptcy due to alleged corruption at the top.

In the USA, the federal minimum wage stands at $7.25 per hour since July 24, 2009. Several states also enforce their own minimum wage laws. 

When an employee falls under both state and federal minimum wage laws, they're entitled to whichever rate is higher.

For freelancers, there's no specific federal minimum wage requirement. However, they're safeguarded by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). 

This act prevents employers from unfair practices like not paying or underpaying wages.