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Comment by davidajackson | Hacker News Reader

I'm curious about your monetization strategy here, you mention using a 1 time app purchase + other what looks like 'cosmetics/item' purchases. Correct me if I'm misunderstanding. Have you thought about making this is a subscription based app where 'professional' feedback on worries etc could be a paid feature?

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Yep, that's the plan at the moment!

I'm trying to design this product so that it doesn't become a crutch for people, but rather a source of general kindness and compassion. So I think it'd need a lot more thought to figure out if professional support would fit. I'm also wary of providing "official" advice due to potential regulatory and moral issues. But I do see the potential, especially from a business perspective.

If you have any other thoughts or feedback on the app, I'm eager to listen~

Monetizing compassion and kindness! Very enlightened work.

That second part is probably sarcastic, but I agree with the potential moral hazards with this product. I hope it's evident that I've tried to design and monetize this in a way that isn't exploitative. Frankly, it's not a strong business position, but I'd rather lose money than introduce more harm into people lives.

I'm pretty happy with the planned approach of a one-time purchase because it helps sustain the product without ads .

Maybe in addition to a one-time purchase you could offer “sponsorship” subscriptions for app users who want to provide extra support.

Mental health is a lot more than "compassion and kindness". See Headspace. Probably wouldn't be where it is today if it were totally free.

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