Day 2: Wait, why is everything free?

So, I wake up in the morning and the first thing we all do is check our Whatsapp and Facebook. 
And probably read the newspaper. But wait, I’m paying for the newspaper guy but not a dime for Whatsapp or Facebook. - They are free.

All my pictures on facebook and google photos are - Free

I went on to check pretty cat pictures on Instagram — Free
Pictures on Pinterest? — Free
Ok, how about some knowledge on Quora? — Free.
Follow my MOOC lessons on Coursera, EdX — Free.
Let me organize my books collection and read about book reviews on Goodreads — Free
Umm, which restaurant is good nearby? Check zomato right? — Free
So let me check my mails, gmail! or yahoomail? outlook? Everything is — Free
Wait, wait, I don’t understand this. Let me search on what’s happening, so I go to google and that is also — FREEEE

So wait, pretty much everything I do online today is free, IT IS FREE. Absolutely nothing.

But I found some solace, thinking I’m atleast paying for the internet connection. I want it simple, they give me a service and I pay for the service.

OMG, now Facebook is introducing FREE BASICS! 
So, I don't have to pay anything to access the entire knowledge that is there on the internet?

Am I not supposed to be the review reading-quality product buying consumer who can’t be fooled by advertisements?

Well, that is what I would like to believe.

This got me thinking. All these online products which we use are absolutely free on the outside, but are they?

I understand that money from advertising pours down into their coffers. I also understand that “if you don’t pay for the product, you are the product”.

But my concern is, how deep does this go. Everyday more and more people are brought online and predominantly end up using the services these companies offer. Simply, because they are famous and why are they famous, because many people use it and why do many people use it? Because it is FREE! I’m not sure how many of us would use facebook or any of the other services if they are going to charge a cost for using it. But what surprises me is, as a consumer the delusion of choice that I think I have.

Choice?

May be my research or study is not adequate. Remember, this is just a blogathon. But I will swear to research more on this.

May be this is the way how business is dealt in today’s world. Where you go to a website to send a message to your grandmother but you are sold a telivision there, because the telivision comapany is paying the messaging company. So, its only about who has more money to make more people buy what they sell?

Anyways, who doesn’t wants something which is free? Now, where are my coupons!