The end of Patreon? Google is implementing micro-payments into Chrome
Google is working on integrating what it calls Web Monetization functionality in its Chrome web browser. One of the main intents is to add a way to reward good content on the web.
Most websites rely either on ads or subscriptions for revenue generation. While direct payments are in theory great, they are not in practice. Each payment has additional costs and intermediary services are needed in most cases, as individual implementations are technical.
This lead to absurd scenarios where fees eat up a large chunk of payments.
Google's solution: Web Monetization
Google explains the feature in a support document on its Chrome Platform Status website: "Web Monetization is a web technology that enables website owners to receive micro payments from users as they interact with their content".
Google highlights that the feature is designed to add a new revenue option for webmasters and publishers that does not rely on ads or subscriptions.
The system offers two advantages according to Google:
- Support for small payments
- No user interaction
Google says that users would pay for content while they consume it. The company explains that websites would add the HTML Link element rel="monetization" to links, which signifies to the browser that the website supports it.
This would then start a new web monetization session if the visitor has a wallet set up for that particular website. Visitors retain control over the entire process, including the sites that they want to reward and the amounts.
In other words: there needs to be a mechanism to a) add funds to a wallet and b) manage websites or publications that the user wants to support. Once set up, things would happen automatically from that point on.
Technical documentation is available here.
Closing Words
Web Monetization addresses a core problem if micro-payments on today's Internet: fees. While it still requires payment providers, as funds need to be added to a user's wallet, it would remove the requirement to pay fees for every single payment.
The new technology has potential, but there are lots of uncertainties at this point. It is just a draft at the moment, and even if Google implements it in Chrome, it would need the help of websites and users to make this work.
What is your take on the idea? Sounds a bit like what Brave Browser is doing with its crypto-approach.
“Once set up, things would happen automatically from that point on” – no thanks, I don’t agree on anyone but me deciding when, what amount and for what to pay…
Yes, let’s junk the ad and tracking system. Maybe use DNS as a means to do this. However, Google? No thanks! I would rather it was my ISP and a usage fee on top of the contract was added. This could be distributed every month to many websites. Seems fairer than Alphabet grabbing everything.
I’m just going to say this:
My internet connection that I pay for, nor my devices, are anyone’s billboard or bank. I will actively set out to prevent this from operating on my network.
Patreon? Sounds more like what Brave is doing than what Patreon is doing to me, but oh well.
Now you can pay for websites in more ways than one, yay! With your privacy, and now, with your money too. Ten years from now, the web will be as much of a micro-transaction focused trash-fire as modern video games are.
Google has grown to become an internet monstrosity – but who makes that possible? The millions of brain-dead users who use their products. At our company all google products and services are forbidden – there are great replacements for every single one of them without having to deal with that criminal enterprise. Seems the DOJ had a big win now that they have been declared a monopoly – but we’ll have to see if a corrupt republican judge or the Supremely Corrupt Court of the United States declares otherwise.
Provided it requires active agreement and does not nag and remains private, who cares… and who in their right mind uses Chrome anyway!
If it works like Google Play then Google take 30%, piece of shit.
I can’t see the American Department of Justice allowing this now that Google has been ruled to be an abusive monopolist.
yea, for sure a good idea to give google insights on payments..
Only insights into payments? Google will take a “processing fee” for each transaction. This might become a nightmare.
Web Monetization, yes; via Google, never.
I’d love to see the concept and carrying out adopted by all browser developers.
Always makes me laugh when I see Google trying to adopt a smiling and compassionate attitude : anything the company does is always — always — conditioned if not motivated by a ROI. Count me out of this jerk’s tentacles.
Now google wants to put the entire internet behind a paywall they control. Yet another reason to break up the monopoly.
Google is stupid. First they prevent traffic going from their search engine to most of the websites, but now they want to manage those websites’ money. Getting in an exclusive relationship with Google, if your livelihood depends on, is a horrible idea. A lot of YouTubers right now (those who have brains) are trying to build communities on alternative platforms. Some would say openly in their videos that it is much more important for them if you subscribe to their feeds on other platforms and that they do not want to receive donations through YouTube system. Writing is on the wall. You need the life raft if your main business depends on Google services.
It’s nothing new since practically every site has a DONATE button somewhere. Either that or a “Support Us” link somewhere which usually takes you to Github where you can sign up using a debit, or credit card. Either way, it doesn’t involve exhorbitant banking fees.
But I notice now on my Android phone that you get Google Wallet shoved in your face seemingly as the only means of paying for something. You just need to dig a little deeper to find the alternative payment methods such as iDEAL for example which are also present. iDEAL used to be a Dutch only payment processor, but since it was acquired by EPI it can now be used as an alternative payment system in the EU at least: https://www.epicompany.eu/epi-successfully-completes-acquisition-of-ideal-and-payconiq-international/ Google of course is not happy about that at all.
Yep. “Exorbitant banking fees”. I am almost 100% sure Google charges YouTubers 40% on received donations. Somehow, I believe this build in Chrome service is going to be very pricey too, if not at first but eventually.
Is this support for card payments or is it support for crypto payments or both?
Good question, unclear at this point.
I didn’t even know this existed. Thanks for the article and let me about how people waste the time around useless social networks! :]