The impacts of the model that BigTech currently follows closely resemble those of product dumping. Effectively banning that model would mean alternative subscription based platforms would stand a much better chance of succeeding than they currently do.

a) It wouldn't kill them. They would have to change their business model though.

b) Shouldn't our laws prioritize natural-persons over corporate desires?

Companies don't have a right to a specific revenue model. Humans should have a right to their own identity.

My desire is to be able to use those products without paying for them. And to use them with friends and family members that can't pay for them.

> My desire is to be able to use those products without paying for them.

You can't actually do that. None of those companies are charities.

You pay one way or another.

If you desired to inject heroin into your veins, that wouldnt mean we should decriminalize it

In Europe, more and more public transportation is free, or at least very heavily subsidized

The costs are covered by local taxes, to curb on individual vehicle use and reduce congestion. After some hiccups, some cities manage good economies of scale where everybody, including the environment, wins.

As for housing and food, while there the incentive structure is more fragile, at least, we have homeless shelters that are free, and once again, everybody wins: the costs are very low, and cities are far safer and cleaner.

If transportation, housing, and food were paid for by giving private corporations and they demanded to incade our privacy as payment then i would be against that too actually

But in this occurrence, they are public services, under the public administration's control.

Successful socialism if you want.

So where does the money come from?

You are acting as if that is crazy talk. It IS possible. And desirable, to many of us.

Just not going to happen. But the post above was discussing wants.

From where comes the money?

How is paying for a product instead of being the product a bad thing?

That view is overly simplistic. People find real utility in ad-supported tools and apps.

But the question is if its a net negative for society. People found real utility is leaded gasoline too, but we rightfully had to ban that

I'm ok with that. for too long the parasites have hidden behind "advertising" as a way to collect data.

Say it loud so the kids in the back can here:

- IF IT IS FREE YOU ARE THE PRODUCT -

Those exist! People choose to use gmail because of the scale, stability, and feature set paid for by targeted advertising.