Thinking about it, besides library access, the internet is already behind ISPs and requires funds to access. Having I2SP's does not solve the underline problem.
The TOR network is probably the closest thing to what OP is describing but that is filled with illicit material and has no safeguards. We all pretend we don't like internet laws but those rules keep criminals below the surface and normal users from accidently stumbling on it.
Anonymous KYC is the way forward. Legislation on preventing bots presenting as legitimate users should be implemented. Similarly to how the world has mostly made robo calling illegal.
I'm not so certain. I used to buy a broadsheet newspaper, which was full of ads. Now I pay a few hundred a year, and get the same newspaper online, with no ads at all.
So, the precursor to online media has already gone through this paradigm shift.
I mean, what you're saying is "If I pay for a product ads go away"
Which is partially true, but it only shifts the distribution of the problem. Once your service gains enough popularity network effects cause it to gain value. You have to worry about high priced buyouts of the entire service (great for the site owner, terrible for the users).
It's not, it just requires creativity. One example I can think of is limiting connectivity by distance between nodes. Something like Meshtastic seems unlikely to ever be commercialized in the same way that the Internet has been. Sure, you would lose some useful applications of the Internet, but you would gain other things.
Also for better or for worse the ad-centric model to some extent has allowed more people to access information.
Gating everything behind paid (but with no ads) likely would hurt a significant amount of lower income users.
Thinking about it, besides library access, the internet is already behind ISPs and requires funds to access. Having I2SP's does not solve the underline problem.
The TOR network is probably the closest thing to what OP is describing but that is filled with illicit material and has no safeguards. We all pretend we don't like internet laws but those rules keep criminals below the surface and normal users from accidently stumbling on it.
Anonymous KYC is the way forward. Legislation on preventing bots presenting as legitimate users should be implemented. Similarly to how the world has mostly made robo calling illegal.
I'm not so certain. I used to buy a broadsheet newspaper, which was full of ads. Now I pay a few hundred a year, and get the same newspaper online, with no ads at all.
So, the precursor to online media has already gone through this paradigm shift.
I mean, what you're saying is "If I pay for a product ads go away"
Which is partially true, but it only shifts the distribution of the problem. Once your service gains enough popularity network effects cause it to gain value. You have to worry about high priced buyouts of the entire service (great for the site owner, terrible for the users).
It's not, it just requires creativity. One example I can think of is limiting connectivity by distance between nodes. Something like Meshtastic seems unlikely to ever be commercialized in the same way that the Internet has been. Sure, you would lose some useful applications of the Internet, but you would gain other things.