A 'path to profit' is the time tested lifeline of any enterprise. However this is never highlighted as it doesn't bode well with the general social psyche of humans.

For last 20 years, tech enabled startups, chose 'postpone profit' strategy adopting 'free to use' or 'ad supported' approach helped by raising high capital to build moats around the target market.

Now this trend can be either seen as a moment where the moat is complete and 'path to profit' is through captive customers. (Or) a decline/failure of the 'postpone profit' strategy accelerated by the current economic recession.

All social media and any other free to use switching to subscriptions is quite a probability now.