How to Build a 'Paywall' That Doesn't Break the Web

http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2011/08/how-to-build-a-paywall-that-doesnt-break-the-web/243039/

by alexismadrigal • 15 years ago

32 15 15 years ago

emptyage• 15 years ago

We tried to make this fun. Some of the hidden features that I think are pretty cool include the way you can bypass the nagwall with the Konami code, and, of course, the nagwhal: http://two.longshotmag.com/404

jpadvo• 15 years ago

I poked around, but couldn't find any articles behind the nagwall. Any chance you could let us know where we can see it working?

Great concept, by the way.

joeybaker3• 15 years ago

The nagwall isn't in every story, but it is on many. Here's one: http://two.longshotmag.com/story/money-tank

computerbob• 15 years ago

Or you can just turn javascript off and you don't get the nagwall either.

joeybaker3• 15 years ago

Certainly! We weren't paranoid about security. Though you could certainly imagine a system where the content is only loaded after a JS event + cookie combination of a kind.

gcr• 15 years ago

What about search engines or text-mode browsers without javascript?

intellection• 15 years ago

Internet accessible.

citricsquid• 15 years ago

Any site that asks me to share before I've viewed gets a big fuck you from me and I'll just leave. It's ridiculous and completely ignores the point of sharing. I don't see the cover of a film and say "Hey friend, you should watch [film], it's awesome!"... because how can I know it's Awesome? I haven't seen it. The same goes for any sort of web content, I am not sharing content unless I enjoy it and I can't know that before I have viewed it.

mfitzerald2• 15 years ago

This is very similar to the Groupon model... you get a deal (or a thing) while being being motivated to spread the word. Not 'sharing' so much as promoting. You're being inconvenienced (paying) and it allows you to edit the text.. so you can just say.. "I'm tweeting this page so I can read it rather than pay them. Sorry." I don't know. Not sure if this is the final iteration but very cool that they're trying to figure out how to put value on content other than banner ads. Hope they figure it out.

ahemphill2• 15 years ago

There's an "ignore" button. :)

benatkin• 15 years ago

I disagree with the title. You are breaking the web. Or you're not. Either way, it would have to be an odd definition of breaking the web if going from a standard paywall to your paywall changed the status of whether or not it's breaking the web.

pacifika• 15 years ago

Will be interesting to see what the percentage of visitors is that end up paying to not see this wall. I see a lot of parallels with donationware, and all evidence from that indicates it's not possible to live off just donations.

So I hope there will be a followup.

How to Build a 'Paywall' That Doesn't Break the Web

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