In some recent client work, an emerging theme is that consumer tech. / media start-ups no longer control the most important bits of their UI. Today, if you’re a consumer technology or digital media company, nearly all of your customers will first encounter you through a channel like Facebook, Instagram, twitter, an app store or an email application. In each case: You, as the app developer or content owner have minimal control over how your application or content looks and works in these platforms.

If this is true, it’s exciting - the New York Times is now generating more revenue from subscribers than it is from advertisers. My only worry is that they’re doing this by publishing more crappy click bait to social media; I’ve clicked through on stories a few times lately, only to find what I’d charitably describe as nicely edited, reworded press releases. This article about ebay from Saturday was a prime example.