Paywalls: The News Industry's Struggle for Survival

A Pew Research Center survey reveals the state of news consumption in the US: While 74% of Americans frequently encounter paywalls on news websites, only 17% paid for news in the past year. Most people opt for free news or abandon reading, primarily because ample free resources exist and the value proposition of paid news is low. The survey also shows that highly educated, older, and Democratic-leaning individuals are more likely to pay for news. Paywalls represent a challenge to the news industry's survival in the digital age and reflect changing news consumption habits.