That is not new, just new with APIs. The usual cycle with startups is to: - Start being very open, as this brings people developing over the platforms and gen

That is not new, just new with APIs. The usual cycle with startups is to: - Start being very open, as this brings people developing over the platforms and generates growth - As long as they are growing, VC money will come to pay for everything. This is the scale up phase - Then comes the VC exit, IPO or whatever - Now the new owners don't want user growth, they want margin growth. This is the company phase - Companies then have monetize their users (why not ads?), close up free, or high-maintenance stuff that do not bring margin - and report that sweet $$$ growth quarter after quarter ...until a new startup comes in and starts the cycle over again, destroying all the value the old company had. A mix of Enshittification and Innovators Dilemma theories