Roger Ebert’s prediction that internet information will require users to pay is definitely headed that way in some areas. A large majority of news sites (NY Times, CNN, and Seattle Times) require you to pay to access stories or stream video features. I am just waiting for KEXP and KOUW to start charging non-donators for access to the streaming stories and music.
Currently, I am unwilling to pay directly to access any news story. There were several times on the NY Times web-site in a which a story (over 7 days old) was inaccessible unless I paid $4.95. So I rebell by reading the paper on a daily bases and print the story out at the time of reading it to avoid the fees. You could argue just order a subscription of the newspaper but I enjoy having quicker access on the internet and saving a few trees. It is interesting to note that as
I just can’t imagine web-sites charging people for access to their pages. It’s counter-productive. Who wants to pay a fee to access products and services? Then again, Costco charges membership fees for people to purchase products at their warehouse and online? What’s to stop Amazon.com?
6 comments:
You made some great points and I do agree. The last comment you said was about Costco charging people for membership and there are a lot of places like that. Not only stores but activities including private clubs. It seems like nothing is free these days at all.
In the case of the internet I think it is such a crime how certain sites make you pay if you want information about the news or gossip. If you don't have to pay then you have to make an account and all of that which I think is so ridiculus for then you just get junk mail. It reminds me of the pop ups that come up when I'm on the internet for telling me I won a free t.v. or $100,000 dollors. But really I did not win anything at all. The people behind the contests just make it so they get your email address by having you answer questions to recieve your free gift in reality im sure 90% of people quit part way through it since the questions are so long. But they got your email.
I will not be surprised at all if one day the majority of sites on the internet are blocked until you either pay for them or you make an account.
I agree. Some day most websites you will have to pay to view their information, or at least a majority of it, they might tease you with free previews. Online sites like The Seattle Times will need to start charging, because sites like these are loosing customers in the paper form. It is sad, because the main reasons why I like the Internet is because it's fast, convient, and free (for the most part). I had a similar experience, trying to access an article, and I was supposed to sign up and pay for the article, so I immediatly gave up.
Wouldn't it be interesting if Internet providers had a service available for customers that included free access to certain websites by including the added costs in the monthly fees? It seems like websites would be willing to offer reduced prices in that situation and it could help Internet providers attract more customers. Just a thought...
I was talking about this issue with a friend last night. We came to the same conclusion that if we were charged to access the information on the internet above and beyond the cost of the server connection, we would find another way to find the information. I think this would deny many people access to information and the internet would truly become directly linked to a socio-economic status. It does seem to be headed in this direction and I'm not sure what can be done about it, except increase advertisments. If I felt attacked by commercials I would decrease my time on the internet. Definitley counter-productive for the people looking to profit off fees or increase traffic to make more money from advertising.
There have been so many advances in technology in the last 20 years it's amazing. And as each advance came so did the fee. VCR's used to be $400, Cell phone company's charge for "air time" and we pay it, you can connecty your self, by radio and television, to a satelite for a fee. With each new advance we have been hesitant to spend money on upgrading our lives, but the better the gadets get the more used to paying for the service we are. It seems unreasonable to charge for accessing information on the Internet, but really it's no different than the premium currently placed on anything else; and like everything else in time most people will assimlate to the system.
I think charging for quality information is not appalling. You can get news from general portals, which are free, like msn. If you want expertise and real reliability, you must pay and I see nothing wrong with that. As Brianna said, eventually we will get used to it and won’t even blink when the screen comes up to pay.
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