Assume everything else, like the quality of the content, would stay the same as now

This would tell us if social media content behaves like & should be treated as a commodity (just like magazines & DVDs), or something completely different like waste or like a public good

  • Rhynoplaz@lemmy.world
    32·
    2 days ago

    I don’t think people would. Some people might at first, but once millions of users drop off, they won’t be getting enough attention, or seeing enough fresh content to keep paying for it.

  • MagicShel@lemmy.zipEnglish
    28·
    2 days ago

    I donate to my lemmy server BECAUSE it is free. If it cost money to be here, I wouldn’t be.

  • Flauschige_Lemmata@lemmy.world
    17·
    2 days ago

    Apparently 12% of YouTube users are premium users.

    But without the other 90% there would be less content, so subscriber numbers might even go down

  • jet@hackertalks.comEnglish
    16·
    2 days ago

    Social media IS the People. You are the content. If you put up a paywall excluding the people wherever they go will be the new social media.

    Facebook without any users is just a failed website, like myspace.

      • kambusha@sh.itjust.works
        5·
        2 days ago

        They already have a subscription model in Europe due to GDPR. You either need to accept tracking & ads, or pay a fee.

      • jet@hackertalks.comEnglish
        3·
        2 days ago

        A few, but not most.

        Kids won’t, and without kids your site is just will die. You need the next generation otherwise your just going to die with your user base

  • 🇰 🌀 🇱 🇦 🇳 🇦 🇰 🇮 @pawb.socialEnglish
    9·
    2 days ago

    I mean, it all technically is behind a paywall if you count internet access. I’d just go to bars and clubs to chat if every website each had their own subscriptions on top of that, tho. Not sure how I’d get memes tho. 🤔

  • Wolf314159@startrek.website
    3·
    2 days ago

    This is a non-sensical question. On a social media service YOU are the product. You’re characterizing the content as the product. But the content is merely the advertisement or bait for users, who are the real product, being sold to advertisers and countless other organizations. Why do you think reddit started charging for API access? Same goes for ads on Facebook, Google services, Instagram, TikTok, etc.

  • Iconoclast@feddit.uk
    11·
    2 days ago

    I pay for access to a certain social media platform specifically because the content is far above what you get on free platforms.