Stage 2: Hard to leave · Creator economy

Your network, data, purchases, and habits make leaving costly or awkward, even as the bargain shifts.

Ko-fi
2 Hard to leave

Tips and memberships with lighter branding than Patreon; Gold tier and shop features add platform dependency over time.

Creator economy Platform Since 2012
Substack
2 Hard to leave

Newsletter + payments with clearer creator cut than ad platforms; network features and video push toward fuller stack lock-in.

Creator economy Platform Since 2017