paywall
Meaning: A digital barrier on a website that restricts access to content unless the reader pays a subscription fee or makes a one-off payment.
Paywalls have become a critical revenue strategy for newspapers and media organisations struggling with declining advertising income. The Times was the first major British newspaper to introduce a full paywall in 2010. There are different models: hard paywalls (no free access at all), soft paywalls (limited free articles per month), and freemium models (some content free, premium content paid). The term is also used metaphorically for any barrier to access.
Examples
- The article is behind a paywall, so you'll need a subscription to read the full investigation. 这篇文章在付费墙后面,所以你需要订阅才能阅读完整的调查报道。El artículo está detrás de un muro de pago, por lo que necesitarás una suscripción para leer la investigación completa.その記事はペイウォールの向こう側にあるため、全文を読むには購読が必要です。그 기사는 페이월 뒤에 있어서, 전문을 읽으려면 구독이 필요합니다.
- Several regional newspapers have introduced paywalls in an attempt to generate sustainable revenue from their journalism. 几家地方报纸引入了付费墙,试图为其新闻报道创造可持续的收入。Varios periódicos regionales han introducido muros de pago en un intento de generar ingresos sostenibles a partir de su periodismo.いくつかの地方紙がジャーナリズムから持続可能な収益を生み出すためにペイウォールを導入しました。여러 지방 신문이 저널리즘으로부터 지속 가능한 수익을 창출하기 위해 페이월을 도입했습니다.
- Critics argue that paywalls create a two-tier information system, where quality journalism is only available to those who can afford it. 批评者认为,付费墙造成了双层信息体系,优质新闻只有付得起费用的人才能阅读。Los críticos argumentan que los muros de pago crean un sistema de información a dos velocidades, donde el periodismo de calidad solo está disponible para quienes pueden permitírselo.批評家たちは、ペイウォールが情報の二層構造を生み出し、質の高いジャーナリズムが支払い能力のある人にしか利用できなくなると主張しています。비평가들은 페이월이 정보의 이중 구조를 만들어, 양질의 저널리즘을 비용을 감당할 수 있는 사람만 이용할 수 있게 된다고 주장합니다.
Pronunciation
Usage Guide
Context: professional, media
Tone: neutral
Origin & History
A compound of pay and wall (barrier), coined in the early 2000s as online newspapers began experimenting with charging for digital content. The metaphor extends the physical concept of a wall as an obstacle.
Cultural Context
Era: Modern
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
More From This Topic
More from General Advanced
Flashcards, quizzes, audio pronunciation & spaced repetition — all free