We’re Missing an Entire Universe of Web Payments: How to Fix the Web for Creators

Fixing the web involves taking care of Creators.

Creators have three options for surviving online: closed marketplaces, recurring subscriptions and invasive advertising. It’s time for something new.

You’re in an arcade.

This arcade has a million machines.

Instead of coin slots, the games have different payment methods. Some are ad-supported, frequently pestering you with annoying pop-ups. Others won’t let you play until you enter your credit card. Some require a monthly subscription, and the rest have an up-front cost that is too much for casual use.

Some people will pick a few machines they like, and most will give up. Why can’t you just pay a quarter for a quick match against a friend? Why do you need to buy a game for a whole month, remember to cancel the subscription before it gets automatically renewed, and then go through the same process with another game?

This is the state of online transactions.

A lot of people are leaving the arcade.

There are other ways to do web payments.

We know that modern web experience is mostly terrible. Instead of individual creator sites, most people are living inside social networks that promote templated selves and divisive content.

Creators have three options for surviving online: closed marketplaces, recurring subscriptions and invasive advertising.

The truly ridiculous experience of trying to read a single article from dailymail.co.uk. Clicking on any article without a hefty ad blocker delivers results in a complete disaster. In this case, all available content was covered by five distinct advertising zones, including a full moving video that would re-load if cancelled.

Are subscription models, advertising, or closed marketplaces really the best fit for the internet? If not, what might a system of transactions built with the open web look like?

THE MISSING MIDDLE

There are not many ways for individual creators, communities and collaborators to sell digital assets that don’t fit into subscription or medium transaction models. Image courtesy of the author.

Recurring payment models are everywhere, but they aren’t a fit for every situation.