Uploaded November 2016 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago
The revenue model for many online content providers is currently based on advertising. But it doesn’t have to be that way. One alternative is for users to either sign up for subscriptions, but that may only be suitable for frequent—not casual—visitors. Another interesting alternative relies on micropayments. Each time you visit a site, your browser could automatically pay the owner some small amount of money—either with or without prompting the user. Content creators would get paid by users, without having to litter their sites with obtrusive advertising.
Credits: Talking: Geoffrey Challen (Assistant Professor, Computer Science and Engineering, University at Buffalo). Producing: Greg Bunyea (Undergraduate, Computer Science and Engineering, University at Buffalo).
Part of the internet-class.org online internet course. A blue Systems Research Group (https://www.bluegroup.systems) production.
The revenue model for many online content providers is currently based on advertising. But it doesn’t have to be that way. One alternative is for users to either sign up for subscriptions, but that may only be suitable for frequent—not casual—visitors. Another interesting alternative relies on micropayments. Each time you visit a site, your browser could automatically pay the owner some small amount of money—either with or without prompting the user. Content creators would get paid by users, without having to litter their sites with obtrusive advertising.
Credits: Talking: Geoffrey Challen (Assistant Professor, Computer Science and Engineering, University at Buffalo). Producing: Greg Bunyea (Undergraduate, Computer Science and Engineering, University at Buffalo).
Part of the internet-class.org online internet course. A blue Systems Research Group (https://www.bluegroup.systems) production.
