James Lindsay suggests how to tell if you are in a cult:

I was asked in an interview yesterday what some signs are that you’re in a cult. Here are the three best signs:
1) Ask yourself if you can support or defend someone the group doesn’t like without fear. If not, you’re in a cult.
2) Ask yourself what would happen if you left the group. If you’ll be punished, shunned, and ostracized, you’re in a cult.
3) Ask yourself what would happen if you expressed a moderating opinion within the group. If you’d be punished, bullied, or shamed, you’re in a cult.
Most cults today aren’t Jonestown or the Moonies. They’re online phenomena headed by “influencers.” By failing to recognize where and how cults form in the era of social media, we leave ourselves very vulnerable to their malicious tactics.”