I don’t get how we are in the year 2025, most advanced technology we have ever had in human existence… And everything is behind a paywall. Literally everything. Whenever I search the web for a solution as an individual person, not a business or Mega Corporation, just a simple person trying to do a few creative things… Everything is behind a paywall

For example, I want to create a logo image for a personal Tableau dashboard that has a transparent background. Just a struggling person trying to find work and show what I’m capable of making. You know what I find? Everything is behind a payroll. One of the first results on Google that can actually help you is canva! But everything on canva is behind a paywall! You want to resize your document? Transparent background? Paywall. Okay then what if I go to a website to remove the background? There’s lots of them on the Internet that say they are free. Sorry, those are all behind paywalls as well. You have to upload your image to them and then by credits but they don’t tell you that when you get to the website…

Also, editing PDF files… Year 2025, you cannot possibly edit a PDF file for free, and most of the PDF readers out there or PDF viewers have some sort of clickbait this is free! Except that is not free, it’s behind a paywall and you’ll find that out eventually…

I think we are all very excited to see what AI can finally do for Humanity because I am so damn sick of everything being

  • flykey@lemmy.worldEnglish
    1·
    14 hours ago

    The frustration expressed in this post resonates strongly, especially when considering audio editing tools like audio cutter. In 2025, despite technological leaps, simple tasks such as cutting audio files are often hindered by paywalls. Many online audio cutters promise free services but limit functionality unless you pay, similar to the issues mentioned with logo creation and PDF editing. This paywall problem extends across various digital tools, creating barriers for individuals and small creators who need occasional access to these technologies. The promise of AI to democratize technology and provide powerful tools at minimal cost becomes increasingly appealing as we navigate this frustrating landscape where accessibility lags behind technological advancement.