zlacker

>>uptown+(OP)
I wonder at what point Google needs to pay attention to this. If a large number of websites are behind registration or paywalls, then the chance that any individual person searching would have a subscription (or registration) to any individual news site is pretty low. People might have some small number of subscriptions, but not for many sites.

So, why keep returning search results that the end user can't use without registration or purchase? It's essentially "page cloaking" when the rendered page doesn't match google sees.

To me, if you want a paywall, that should come with the consequence that your site isn't included in search results for the general public.

Edit: It's also getting irritating here on HN. I might have a subscription or login to one or two sites, but HN regularly shares stuff from Medium, WSJ, NYT, Wired, and so on. I have to imagine that most people following these posted stories hit the reg/pay-wall.

>>tyingq+Ra
I'm also curious whether googles core business will be affected.

It stands to reason that a subscription model reduces the dependency on ads and strengthens the negotiation position of publishers.

I'm pretty sure Google has made an art form out of being a rent seeking middle man.