This could be a neat addition to substack's platform/design/profits.
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My local newspaper (the father of NYT) expects its largely-aged population to shell out $35/month for daily prints. Some bozo thought offering a free iPad would really jive with this population ( ̄_(ツ)_/ ̄)
Suppose someone comes up with a platform that allows us to pay 0.05$ for one article. They count articles we've selected and charge us when it makes sense due to credit card fees, probably at $10 worth of views.
How long will it take till they start pushing ... a subscription?
Pay us $10/month for $12 worth of article views! 20% savings! *
* Terms and condisions apply. Your $10/month subscription is only good for the 3rd tier content, but there are $29 and $99/month subscriptions that allow access to 2nd tier and first tier. Price valid for a 3 year commitment.
My ultimate goal is that authors/publishers get paid a little bit of something rather than a massive nothing (because the all-or-nothing subcribing to individual websites isn't happening).
I feel this issue echoes digital piracy, which I was happy to cease until there were dozens of individual platforms created. If you make it easier to not steal than to steal, less people will steal (is my premise, at least).
For background: I am a blue collar electrician, not a techie. I just want a simple method of paying for consumed news — without having to pay for access to an entire newspaper (which I only want to read ONE article).
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My local newspaper (the father of NYT) expects its largely-aged population to shell out $35/month for daily prints. Some bozo thought offering a free iPad would really jive with this population ( ̄_(ツ)_/ ̄)