I'm with you here. While content creators (film + tv creators, recording artists, authors, digital creatives, etc) should still earn for their production, the consumption of content is no longer a one-way road.

Content is Created ---> Content is Hosted ---> Content is Delivered ---> Content is Consumed

Now, it is more like Content is Consumed and Data of Consumption is Produced Simultaneously

Therefore, the value of data produced is value-equal to or greater than the cost of content consumption outright. I can't see myself paying to be on a social network because I already pay (exorbitantly for a phone plan that allows me to share with my closest), I have Steemit, and the free social networks ridden with ads don't serve me anything beyond visual inspiration and the occasional item from a distant internet friend.

I simply can't see myself investing any time into things that don't give back anymore.