When Something is Free, Why Should I Pay For It?

In the article Pay Me for My Content, Jaron Lanier suggests that it is time for a revolution in the internet world-where people start charging for the content that they put up. He points out that advertising can only go so far, and that it is time to revolutionize the net. He says that, “We could design information systems so that people can pay for content — so that anyone has the chance of becoming a widely read author and yet can also be paid.”

The problem with this, is that the whole power and allure of the internet is based on the fact that the content is available for free. The fact that a person can navigate hundreds of sites a day without ever having to think twice about it-is what makes the internet unique, and what makes it work.

Now, while they are some websites that have begun to charge people-and it has worked quite well for them (i.e. Second Life, iTunes, various adult sites, etc.)-these are exceptions to the rule. In fact, while iTunes is widely popular, I know many more people who download music for free from Limewire, and who access videos for free from either Limewire or You Tube. In terms of adult content, the same holds true.

The point is that drastically changing what people have grown accustomed to, is dangerous ground. The only potential result that I could foresee, is that if everyone starts forcing people to pay for stuff, then a new breed of super-duper advertising laden sites will crop-up, and offer free content to compete with those sites, and the wheel will continue to turn-and we’ll be back where we started!

The fact the people deserve to make money for their work on the web is debateable. Some people do it as a hobby, and as such, a hobby is not something that you expect to be rewarded for. On the other hand, if it is a full time pastime, or if a lot of work has gone into the content, then the site itself should take some of the money that they receive from advertisers and pay the contributors.

The user cannot be expected to pay. They pay for internet use-so the rest is fair game.