[dtech]

I never understand why ads and subscription fee needs to be an exclusive or for how the big players monetize.

I'd happily give Google $5/month for Gmail, $10/month for YouTube (I already do), $10/month for google search etc or $40/month for their complete package if they remove ads and respect privacy then. It's less than other "semi-essential" services I have to use like my ISP or car and if they make more than that of me from advertisements the advertising/marketing market must be bonkers.

[chillacy]

Youtube is still useful when not all of your friends use it. Chat apps are not

[hgjwq]

If you can afford $40/month to use Google, then they can make much more than that simply showing you ads.

[dtech]

You hear that sometimes but I don't buy it. If that was the case than 1st class in an airline would be plastered with ads, but it isn't.