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Based on how often Wikipedia runs banners asking for donations, I'm not sure the 'voluntary donation' model actually works. The plain truth of it is that most
by Jaruzel 8y ago
Based on how often Wikipedia runs banners asking for donations, I'm not sure the 'voluntary donation' model actually works.
The plain truth of it is that most people[1] want their internet fix for free, and are prepared to expose all manner of personal information in order for it to STAY free. The moment Facebook actually starts charging for features, people will start to jump ship en-mass to the next free social platform.
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[1] Us lot on HN are not 'most people'.
- detaro 8y agoWikipedia has and spends a lot of money though. 250+ employees, $50+ million yearly expenses, $10+ million yearly profits. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation#Financial_summary https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation#Financial...
- Loughla 8y agoI would argue that people are only willing to share all manner of personal data for free because they don't actually understand what is out there about them. I live where HN has absolutely no audience, think middle of nowhere midwest. And I can 100% say that not one person I talk to has any idea what data is available about them, for sale, right now. They don't even understand why it's important to know what permissions your apps on your phone ask for. I think if tech folks made an effort to get people to understand, in language they can access, what data is out there, we would see a massive (attempt at a) shift in how people use the internet Edit: Proof of what I say, that i just remembered. My father is extremely right wing, pro-Trump. He was told, by whatever 'news' agency he happens to listen to on AM radio (Maybe Laura Ingram?) that Facebook was doing awful things and they explained, in the most basic terms, what kind of data Facebook may have on you. So father dear deleted his Facebook account. And opened an Instagram.