So Google is planning to roll out later this year a micropayment system for web content called Newspass. The concept is a single, standardized system for many publishers to put a “pay to read this story” button on their web pages.
Now, I’m on record as not a fan of paywalls online (they’re often considered for the wrong reasons and with a lack of economic understanding). As bad as that is, micropayments are worse.
People who have been paying attention have learned that valuable websites are created through building a loyal community and creating a rewarding user experience. At least a paywall site lets you have a loyal (though small) community with potential for a bonded experience. Micropayments, however, turn the user into a henpecked customer constantly battling doubt and buyer’s remorse. They encourage the shallowest possible interaction with your site, only reading the one or two things you really want to pay for, then get the heck out of there.
So why is Google enabling this by developing an industry platform? It’s clear that Google wants to at least appear friendly to newspaper executives, many of whom in the U.S. and Europe have been denouncing the company as a parasite on their hides. So maybe Newspass is just another Fast Flip — a red herring that smells progressy but really advances nothing.
Or, here’s the crazy part, maybe Google is tricking the news publishers. Get them to install the “pay me” buttons they think are a great idea, so that millions of readers will dodge the pay demand and immediately leave the site to search Google for a free version of the story.
Maybe not. Maybe it’s just a bad idea.
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