I think that can be true, but comes with some big IFs attached which tend to ruin it in practice.
Privacy is the big one. I don't think that needs any further explanation at this point.
Attention span and lack of a way out are the other ones. As a user, I know and respect that creators and services need to make money. But if the only option is to turn me into the product by monetizing my data, screen estate and attention span, which is already running low anyway, I'm out. I'm sorry, but I'm just over it and I will instead spend five minutes of my time to find an alternative and spare future me from the constant brain and data drain.
Unless, that is, I can give you money to never see another ad, at a price that feels appropriate for the value I get out of being able to continue using that site.