Social Media: Pay to Play?
Posted September 10th, 2009 by Jason Douglas
Jason Douglas
Spyder Trap Online Marketing
Earlier this summer, I purchased the iPhone 3g[s]. Once in the App Store, I downloaded as many applications as I could at once; I felt like a kid in a candy store. Google App, Weather Channel App, Facebook app, TwitterFon; the options of apps that were just a click away was overwhelming. The best part: all were free. I still have yet to pay for a single app.
When I got to searching for a Twitter app, I noticed there were free versions, and ‘Pro’ versions that cost anywhere from $0.99 to $4.99. I went with the free TwitterFon application, partially because I am too cheap to spend even $0.99 on something I would use daily, and partially due to the fact that there was a fully-functioning free option.
What if free was not an option?
That day may come, and may come quickly. We, as social media and social networking participants and contributors, have been lucky to use and enjoy networks such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, blogging platforms, etc. all for free. We all know that in this capitalistic world, there’s one thing we are all trying to do: make money. These social networks, along with all the others, are no different.
If tomorrow, an announcement came from all the above mentioned social networking channels that starting Monday, September 14, there would be a monthly fee to use their respective service, what would you do?
The question: social media: would you pay to play, or would you go away?
Tags: iPhone, iPhone apps, Social Media, social media cost
3 Responses to “Social Media: Pay to Play?”
September 11th, 2009 at 12:54 pm
I don’t think I would pay for personal use. Seems counter-intuitive for somebody working on the business side of social media, but being free is the major positive that comes with being involved online for personal use. Furhtermore, personal use is what drives the necessity of business online.
I think Twitter has indicated that they understand the importance of offering a free version for the general public and a paid version for companies trying to make money with their services.
The general public that uses social networking for personal reasons have come to expect that the services be free until you need/want upgrades. Expectations have been set and moving toward a fully paid model would likely indicate a mass exodus from most online communities. Consider other media – they all started out with a cost and have become cheaper. Social networks exploded because they started free, they can’t reverse the trend without adverse consequences.
Good post on an interesting subject, Jason. Thanks
- Scott
September 11th, 2009 at 1:03 pm
None of the services you mention are truly free. They’re all add supported and many offer freemium options where you can pay for additional features or access.
Free will never not be an option on sites that benefit from network effects. That day will not come because if it ever did it would be the day that a new free alternative would launch.
September 11th, 2009 at 2:41 pm
Agree with Ed; there will always be trivial content available for free- it’s not like they are offering masterworks of art or philosophy… it’s just Twitter : )
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