The internet, often a less-than-hospitable place, might soon become a bit more pleasant with the introduction of tipping on Chrome. Google Chrome is planning to integrate Web Monetization technology, developed by the Web Platform Incubator Community Group, allowing users to tip websites directly. This feature will offer websites a new revenue stream beyond subscriptions and advertisements, aiding them in covering their expenses.
Websites will be able to add a code to indicate their support for Web Monetization, enabling users to choose from various payment options. Google highlights the benefits of this move, stating that it “offers a new revenue model for content creators and website owners, allowing them to earn from their work while users consume their content.” This system encourages voluntary contributions, directly rewarding creators for the value they provide.
Web Monetization operates seamlessly, allowing micropayments to occur without user interaction. However, users retain complete control over the amount and timing of payments for each website. They’ll need an enabled wallet, but the process will be streamlined, with the browser automatically initiating a monetization session when a user’s wallet is configured for a particular website.
The unique aspects of Web Monetization lie in its small payments and minimal user interaction, allowing users to tip for content as they consume it. The technology introduces the HTML element “rel=”monetization,” enhancing the existing framework.
While an official release date for this feature is yet to be announced, it remains under development and requires standardization by the W3C. The Web Platform Incubator Community Group is actively working towards this goal.
