Why Ads Keep Winning

Big Tech captures $670 a year from the average American through attention and data. Voluntary payment has never broken past 5% adoption in 50 years of trying. So why does it still matter? Because it’s not about replacing ads. It’s about having somewhere to go when the platforms decide you shouldn’t exist.

Your ad revenue pays the bills. Your voluntary supporters are your insurance policy.

— Shawn Yeager

Timestamps

  • 00:43 The promise of value for value — paying creators instead of being monetized
  • 02:15 The $670 Big Tech extracts annually from the average American
  • 04:30 Evidence voluntary payment can work: Patreon success stories and Apple's tracking data
  • 07:45 The counterevidence: YouTube Premium at 9%, Netflix ads at 55% of signups
  • 10:20 Nostr's payment participation — 0.5% despite frictionless Bitcoin integration
  • 14:30 Historical data: NPR, Wikipedia, pay-what-you-want restaurants all hit the same ceiling
  • 17:00 Why defaults determine behavior more than decisions
  • 18:45 The exit option reframe — why voluntary payment still matters
  • 20:30 The Patreon/Sargon cascade and SubscribeStar deplatforming
  • 23:00 Operation Choke Point and financial censorship
  • 25:30 How successful creators actually operate: the hybrid model
  • 28:00 What this means for creators, listeners, and builders

Resources