Unpaid internships are scummy, exploitive and ultimately just deepen the class divide as the ones who need the leg up and foot in the door the most, are the least likely to be able to afford doing unpaid labour.

There was a interesting thought raised. Unpaid internships used to exist to make sure only graduates who could afford to work for a year (aka in the socio/economic in group) could take them. You then make all your positions require experience and whala, you ensure only the 'right group' of people could enter your field.

They’re also supposed to be illegal under normal circumstances (employee is providing value and not in a co-op, etc).