Community Critical Mass is the point where a community's activity becomes self-reinforcing: members recruit, retain, advocate and create value on their own.
Below Critical Mass, growth depends on paid acquisition and constant intervention. Above it, participation compounds — recruitment, retention and creation happen inside the community itself.
Mechanics, Operations and Intelligence combine to move a community from dependent growth to self-sustaining growth.
Members answering each other without staff, rising organic acquisition, recurring creator activity, stable engagement patterns and declining dependence on marketing spend.