Gregory's Server@stux but who pays the bills?
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15 comments
@beholder20 @stux I mean, there doesn't HAVE to be one for the overall #fediverse or for #mastodon or for an individual instance... But running an instance, especially a big one, sure isn't free. @tw @beholder20 @stux many servers run on community donations - sometimes monthly. A lot of volunteer labor. @tw @beholder20 @stux The core devs get about $12k per month from patreon: https://social.wake.st/@liaizon/109293515961070211 I chip in q dollar a month to my own server. @derek @tw @beholder20 @stux  @beholder20 @tw Donations from the community ❤️ see our about page for example: @stux @beholder20 sure. I started DynDNS as a community-supported donation-based service. It is REALLY hard to make that scale and still be sustainable. @stux @beholder20 I don't mean to be s**ting on anyone's parade. It clearly is working in many instances. I'm more trying to have thoughts / start conversations on expanding the ways we do it, because I think some additional options are going to be necessary for really explosive growth.  the/an additional option would be #platformcoop model. The instance I'm on, #socialcoop, is funded and managed by its members. This model also immediately reframes any problems or suggested improvements from "THEY should do something about this" to "How do WE budget for and address this". @tw @stux The great thing about the fediverse is that since instances and users are distributed, costs are distributed. So some servers might be funded by individuals, others collectively, still others by patreon, etc. I assume at some point, there may be instances where you pay to join, who knows. And by now, open source business models are pretty well established (far from perfect, but are other models?)  @pearlbear I feel like ad supported instances should exist. It's a fair way for both instance owners and users to cover their costs without having to put any money in themselves. The problem is when the goal becomes making as much money as possible   @pearlbear @tw @stux Some will succeed, some will fail long term — digital Darwin in action. |
@tw @stux makes me wonder the business model for #mastodon