Re:Google can now read your WhatsApp messages
by Workaccount2 on Tuesday July 08, 2025 @03:25PM
(#44503184)
Ad subsidized subscriptions are cheaper.
I don't see what people find so grating about having a ad-load/cost spectrum. Maybe it's just confusion about the billing model.
They are cheaper until they aren’t. The neat thing about a plan that removes all ads is that you can just add the ads again later and introduce yet another, even more expensive plan that removes the ads again. Such fun! Much profit!
In fact, I don't believe the ad model would have gone away if everyone started paying for a subscription. The bottom tier would still be filled with ads.
Ideally, the market would solve this. The companies that are pushing annoying would lose customers to the companies that don't. But since we don't live in a ideal world, I honestly think regulations would be the only way. Something like "If a customer pays for subscription in any way, you can't show ads" - and then let the companies put a realistic price to their subscription tiers, which makes it worthwhile for them.