"A very large percentage of economic activity is shifting online and it makes sense that there are more services that are going to charge. It also means there are going to be more people willing to pay"

As the global economy increasingly transitions to the digital realm, the nature of how value is created and exchanged is undergoing a profound transformation. Economic activity, once largely confined to physical marketplaces and tangible goods, is now flourishing across the internet. Online education, entertainment, communication tools, productivity platforms, financial services, and countless other domains illustrate this shift. The explosion of digital productivity means that not only are more businesses launching online, but also that consumers are becoming accustomed to seeking and purchasing services digitally.

With this migration comes a new business model paradigm. For decades, much of the internet was dominated by a “free” ethos, with services supported by advertising or data collection rather than direct payments. However, as users grow more sophisticated, their willingness to pay for higher-quality, ad-free, privacy-respecting, and feature-rich experiences increases. Creators and service providers, recognizing both the costs and the value of what they offer, introduce subscriptions, paywalls, and direct payment models. Examples abound, from streaming platforms to software subscriptions, creator-driven newsletters, and exclusive community memberships.

As more people’s lives and work are enmeshed with digital platforms, their perception of value shifts as well. What might have felt expendable or unnecessary a decade ago now becomes vital infrastructure or a must-have luxury. This normalization of paying for digital goods creates a feedback loop: the greater the demand for such services, the more incentive exists for entrepreneurs to build new offerings, further increasing the volume and diversity of paid online services. Moreover, payment technology, trust in digital transactions, and ease of access bolster users’ readiness to spend online.

Such evolution signals a maturing internet economy. People shed the expectation that everything online should be free and instead embrace a landscape where digital goods and experiences are as worthy of investment as tangible ones, supporting innovation and fueling the next wave of economic growth.