Do you miss the old days when everything was free?

INFS6016 Week 6 Digital Business Model Reflection | Session 6: Business model in the digital era_2

In week 6, we were introduced to the lean canvas and especially the different revenue streams/models by digital platform. So, we did the lemonade challenge, for finding as many as possible models in terms of subscription fee, advertising fee, brokerage fee, consulting fee, Licensing fee, Usage fee, Franchise fee, Asset fee.

( Revenue Model taught in-class )

The activity was interesting. But it also brings up the question of the conflicts in my mind. Which is, the internet should be free. I remembered in the beginning era of the internet, everything was taken for granted as free. You don’t have to buy the CDs, just download the copies from the website, then copy and paste to your MP3. All done. Movie as well, you can go and search on baidu.com with key words like BT, then you can find the movie and download it. These were all for free.

( Now people are using streaming service by having the memberships like Apple Music)

But nowadays, Intellectual Property Rights as well as copy rights have been highly valued and protected. Though some people can still download the free music, most people now are starting to buy the membership of music and video platforms to enjoy the licensed albums and movies. I mean It is not a bad thing. I am an indie artist, so if somebody pays to listen to my music, I am happy about it.

( My Artist Profile on QQ Music )

( Netflix is getting more and more expensive )

But How to reach the balance between business failure and exasperating users by charging too many fees should be brought to the discussion.

( where is the relationship with users? )

Like the lemonade challenge, we tried every single way to squeeze the money from people’s pockets by finding as many revenue models as possible. One idea was helping local neighbourhoods to take their trash and charge them or if a stranger asks where the toilet is, then we will charge the stranger. But some of them actually can be just a small favour to people, which can build the relationship with the local people and business rather than charging money. But on a digital platform, it feels cold and greedy. Numbers are everywhere, money, money and money. Is it the original meaning of our society? Just to get more money. Like many Chinese video streaming services e.g. iQiyi, Youku, QQ, charged membership fee but still left the ads and hidden fee for watching full episodes.

Can we turn back time and find the feeling of interacting with people in a caring way instead of money? Most importantly, in a business and capitalised world, will we be able to think like this anymore? So, this week’s session actually brought me back to the original when I was using the internet.

Do you miss the old days when everything was free?