Is the Internet still young?

I’m constantly reminded that the internet is young, mostly because of new technologies or services, but I hear it being applied to other areas were there’s a lack of agreement. The Ars argument about “…ad blocking is devastating sites you love” reminds me of the later.

One side argues for user rights. I like JaredB’s comment in a recent Google Reader/Buzz thread about the topic:

… I (and every other web user) has absolutely no obligation to justify our actions in this regard. When I request some data via an HTTP request and it comes back to my browser for viewing, I have every right to filter and choose to not see / read any portion of that data that I wish…

I and Ken argue that the effects of doing whatever you’d like hurts,

It can result in people losing their jobs, it can result in less content on any given site, and it definitely can affect the quality of content.

So is the internet too young to decide this ethical dilemma? As everyone knows by now the internet is us, People Magazine called us the people of the year ( ha ha ); maybe ”we are to young” to decide what we want.

I thought we all want a free internet, I don’t think you can argue against that ( unless you’re a repressive government ); internet content creators like Ars are feeling the same pinch digital media struggles with now — but it’s a not exactly piracy.

… [content providers are] well aware of the existence of ad blocking technology when they chose that revenue model, so they were (or should have been) well aware of the risks involved. As a matter of observable fact, they were aware, and that’s why they chose to do it anyway, because it’s worth it for them (according to them, since they’re doing it) even taking the blockers into account.

What the solution then? Pay walls.

Even if I didn’t think ad-blockers are ethically wrong, I’d be worried about the revenue model websites would need to adopt if ads cannot. If sites follow in the foot steps of digital media they’d find DRM isn’t an option but a subscription or mixed model would work.

Ars talked about a mixed model, where content is ad free for subscribers but is that really the future?. I can’t image it lasting, in a mixed model the subscribers are donors and the people with the “right” to filter will not all donate subscribe. My worry, as soon as the provider gets this point the walls will be built.

Instigating pay-walls is counter intuitive to a free internet.