One of the worst feelings to have is that of being used. It’s worse if the outcome of the situation is something that we don’t believe in, is harmful to those involved, or becomes a tool that hurts others.
Exploitation happens all the time. People in positions of power and institutions of power often use others for their own benefit. This is a consequence of the power dynamic. For those of us in a position of being asked to be involved in the promotion of goods or services these may be important questions to ask:
Does the content I am asked to present align with my values?
Deeper still…
Do the values of the person or institution I am partnering with align with my own values?
In asking these question at least we can become aware of the potential situation we will be getting into. It’s a first step to prevent that feeling of being used from being a reality.