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What you are describing is called Flattr. It was launched in 2010 and never went anywhere, like every other micropayment service.
by amazon_not 11y ago
What you are describing is called Flattr. It was launched in 2010 and never went anywhere, like every other micropayment service.
- taurath 11y agoInteresting but not surprising that it existed. Reddit gold works because they have hundreds of millions of users and it probably barely pays the bills. Many smarter people have tried tackling the problem, but I don't think drastic online economic changes can grow organically without some sort of catalyst. Maybe if a browser like the one linked in the OP could get enough of a userbase that it becomes a force.
- steveklabnik 11y agoFlattr was a product of the Pirate Bay crew; they had an audience, it just didn't work out.
- PhasmaFelis 11y agoFlattr is still running and is used by more than a few major webcomics (presumably other sites as well, I've only really looked at it for webcomics). Granted it never took off like it wanted to, but Patreon operates on a similar model and is absolutely booming right now. Several comic artists I'm aware of have been able to quit their jobs and go full-time on the strength of Patreon alone--A Ghost Story, for example. So it's definitely not true that micropayment services always fail.
- taurath 11y agoYup,a huge amount to of my artist friends are on it. Honestly it sounds like the best option - you take the "whales" who are hyper engaged with your content and have them fund it. If the new york times had a system where you could get benefits, no ads, and some exclusive access or perhaps editorial votes for a relatively high monthly fee I'll bet they'd get a LOT of takers.
- rapsacnz 11y agoThat is not correct. Blendle in the Netherlands is growing in leaps and bounds and has 250000 users who PAY to read good content. https://launch.blendle.com/ https://launch.blendle.com/