Should we use [paywall] tag where applicable?

62 pointsradious7y ago22 comments

Idea shamelessly stolen from petercooper: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=16859287

With the grow of paywalled content getting to the first page, could we please start marking it somehow? It could help avoid disappointment when a link leads to an inaccessible content.

22 comments

masukomi7y ago

yes. please. Better would be to just automate it because there aren't THAT many paywalls i get linked to from here. Just have a list of paywall sites and have the back end preface the the link with it.

solarkraft7y ago

While I would agree in theory, it seems that the people at Y Combinator are not really intending to touch the HN code base.

cm20127y ago

No. Support high quality journalism.

klez7y ago

Wait, what? How would adding an indication that the article is paywalled inhibit/hamper support for high quality content?

If an article is paywalled and I don't have any indication about this, I would open the link, notice it's paywalled and then decide whether to pay or not. If a tag is present, this just moves the decision early in the process.

So, again, how would not using such a tag help support high quality journalism?

plufz7y ago

I'm not sure if your question is rhetorical or not. But if you really are wondering, it's because if we click the link, chances are that we read that first paragraph of text paywalled articles usually show. That makes us interested/curious and we might pay to view it. We also feel more invested in the content after that first click.

If we only have the title in the HN feed chances are lower that we will buy the content instead of simply scrolling by. Since the latter that takes less effort.

We humans don't always make rational choices, so nudging us in the direction of paying for content – if we want to support payed content – will of course increase the amount we spend on content.

2 more replies

dzek697y ago

How about not allowing such content?

craftyguy7y ago

This is the real solution. Adding a tag will just draw people to complain about paywalls.

klez7y ago

In my opinion yes. It will probably just save me a couple of clicks, but it's irritating, especially on mobile.

Someone7y ago

Where would that end? Would links to content that’s only partially visible such as to previews on the Amazon store, or to Google books, get a tag, too?

What about geographically restricted content (parts of BBC.co.uk)?

What about pages that beg for donations, either extremely politely (theGuardian.com) or more aggressively (Wikipedia.org)?

DanBC7y ago

This would have been better as a poll. https://news.ycombinator.com/newpoll

The people submitting the article don't always know it's paywalled. Either they have a subscription; or they haven't hit their article limit this month; or the article is free for a few days and paywalled later.

So any tagging would be inconsistent.

beezischillin7y ago

Yes, please. It would be useful for me, especially when I browse HN on my phone.

gsich7y ago

Yes.

trebor7y ago

Yes, absolutely.

tones4117y ago

+1 for tagging

leotravis107y ago

Yes, a paywall tag should be visible so the reader can know that it can't be read. Makes it much easier too.

ThatHNGuy7y ago

yes, please, especially when someone is liking Wall Street Journal here!

cerberusss7y ago

I fell into the trap of subscribing to the WSJ once. When you want to cancel your subscription, you have to call an international number where they try and stop you from canceling. There is no way to cancel online -- not only annoying but also against Dutch law.

NKosmatos7y ago

Another vote for the [paywall] tag

KiDD7y ago

Yes Please!

I just close articles that are paywalled

krapp7y ago

If it means no more tedious complaint threads about paywalled content, then yes.

But what am I saying? Tagging them will probably just draw people in faster to complain about it harder.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse

22 comments

masukomi7y ago

solarkraft7y ago

While I would agree in theory, it seems that the people at Y Combinator are not really intending to touch the HN code base.

cm20127y ago

No. Support high quality journalism.

klez7y ago

Wait, what? How would adding an indication that the article is paywalled inhibit/hamper support for high quality content?

So, again, how would not using such a tag help support high quality journalism?

plufz7y ago

If we only have the title in the HN feed chances are lower that we will buy the content instead of simply scrolling by. Since the latter that takes less effort.

We humans don't always make rational choices, so nudging us in the direction of paying for content – if we want to support payed content – will of course increase the amount we spend on content.

2 more replies

dzek697y ago

How about not allowing such content?

craftyguy7y ago

This is the real solution. Adding a tag will just draw people to complain about paywalls.

klez7y ago

In my opinion yes. It will probably just save me a couple of clicks, but it's irritating, especially on mobile.

Someone7y ago

Where would that end? Would links to content that’s only partially visible such as to previews on the Amazon store, or to Google books, get a tag, too?

What about geographically restricted content (parts of BBC.co.uk)?

What about pages that beg for donations, either extremely politely (theGuardian.com) or more aggressively (Wikipedia.org)?

DanBC7y ago

This would have been better as a poll. https://news.ycombinator.com/newpoll

So any tagging would be inconsistent.

beezischillin7y ago

Yes, please. It would be useful for me, especially when I browse HN on my phone.

gsich7y ago

Yes.

trebor7y ago

Yes, absolutely.

tones4117y ago

+1 for tagging

leotravis107y ago

Yes, a paywall tag should be visible so the reader can know that it can't be read. Makes it much easier too.

ThatHNGuy7y ago

yes, please, especially when someone is liking Wall Street Journal here!

cerberusss7y ago

NKosmatos7y ago

Another vote for the [paywall] tag

KiDD7y ago

Yes Please!

I just close articles that are paywalled

krapp7y ago

If it means no more tedious complaint threads about paywalled content, then yes.

But what am I saying? Tagging them will probably just draw people in faster to complain about it harder.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse