DarkChibiShadow
patreon
Bad changes coming to Patreon because of Apple's greedy policies.
🕑 Added 2024-08-12 20:08:32 +0000 UTCEDIT: Apparently, my page has never been available to Apple app users in the first place, because it's an adult page. (Another reason to hate Apple: they're anti-porn!) So, I won't be too affected by this policy change until next year, in which I will be HIGHLY affected once my page is forced into the "monthly" billing model instead of the "per creation" model, oof. Still, this is a good PSA on what's going on with other creators and a reminder to not use Apple apps to sign up for ANY subscriptions.
Original post starts here:
Hello everyone! Frankly, this is terrible news to wake up to.
As usual, Apple is bringing terrible policy changes to yet another app. (Don't forget, they're largely behind the Tumblr porn ban, the reason why apps like Clip Studio charge you a subscription if you use them on an iPad, and they tried to sue Itchio over "indecent content" which is one of the only sites I can sell my PDFs on.)
TLDR: Apple wants to take 30% of every subscription (more than Patreon itself takes) for every pledge someone makes through the iOS app. That's a payment the FAN will pay, not me. Every person using the app in the future will be overpaying.
So, if you're currently pledged through that store, you're probably going to want to change that in the future.
The timeline looks like this: in November, my page can no longer take any pledges from someone trying to pledge via the iOS store, and then in November 2025, I will not have access to my current "per creation" at all.
Why is this bad?
It's bad because over half of my pay-check each month comes from generous people who decide they want to tip me with an extra pledge per month. (My page does not require people to pay me per creation, it's everyone's choice to either pay me once, twice, three times, or the full four. I rely on everyone's kindness to get by with this model.)
Is your pledge affected?
Unless you've used the iOS app to pledge, no, you're not. If you're not on an Apple device, you are totally unaffected. However: if you have used the Apple app to pledge, I really can't tell you for sure what's going to happen in November. I'd suggest switching to pledging via a browser or other device now, if you can.
How can you avoid this?
Use a browser like Firefox to pledge with. Yes, use a browser on your phone. (Firefox has an amazing phone version with amazing add-ons.) Better yet, just use a desktop or laptop computer to pledge, if you have one. Use anything BUT the Apple store app to pledge and you should be okay. This way, you can boycott that version of the app too.
How does this affect you going into the future?
So, what I expect to see is a decline in pledges starting this November, with a huge drop-off next November. It's going to be devastating.
I have plans for what I want to do: but those plans require time and are never a guarantee of money in the first place. (For example: finally finishing the Solanaceae game or releasing another chapter of Cavemate. All of those things take a lot of work to get done right and it's not guarantee I'll make enough money to support myself even if I do finish them. Patreon was way more reliable.)
All I can really do at this moment is take a look at how much time I have left (a deadline like this is always terrible to deal with, ugh) and work accordingly. And thank all of you who are here with me through this.
As a last note: if you're paying for anything on your Apple device via one of their apps, double check how much you're paying. You're probably overpaying if it's something like a Youtube premium, etc. I've seen folks saying they found out they were overpaying up to $5 on certain things before.
Fuck Apple. Boycott the app. Support any artists you see affected by this by commenting on their work and sharing their creations around. Thank you very much!
Comments
DCS
As long as you didn't use the iOS app to pledge, you should be ok!
p0garda
thanks for the info! time to switch from ipad to my ol' reliable android phone and re-pledge
Maxwell
While you're right, I didn't think of hand-me-downs initially when writing this... Are people with a hand-me-down phone really supporting people's Patreons anyways? I've been using a cheap refurbished phone that was released 6+ years ago. It's important to note that people who DIDN'T BUY THEIR PHONE NEW are very obviously not part of the problem, and the fact those people are also not the ones making lots of in-app payments goes to show that the 90% of people who are out there buying brand new I-phones every generation are the ones I am putting blame on, the ones who caused this problem, and more importantly, the ones experiencing this problem. Real talk.... What person with a hand me down phone in poverty is even going to notice this payment change? Why does bringing up people who obviously are not who I am talking about, and obviously do not contribute to this problem or even EXPERIENCE this problem, make my words 'bullshit'? Sounds like you're just coming out swinging without actually thinking about how the logic sounds. You're roping people in poverty into this conversation for an easy win, but you're not going to excuse the assholes who buy new I-Phones by mentioning people who likely can't afford Patreon to begin with. Much like used games, you're not giving Apple money if you get a hand-me-down phone. That is why I very specifically talked about PURCHASING a new I-Phone - If you aren't going to engage with my words, don't engage at all. But this half-engagement is toxic. Hopefully reading this response makes you realize I am very obviously not blaming anybody in poverty, because they are so far removed from this situation and do not financially support Apple. If I wasn't obvious about that at first, my apologies, but your response is not helpful for getting to the bottom of things here.
Sam R
Your entire rant is complete bullshit by someone clearly ignorant of what it’s actually like to live in poverty. You take what you can get. For a lot of people I’ve known that means using whatever shitty, old broken hand-me-down iPhone they can get for free from a friend or family member. If you’re trying to get a job in 2024 you need to have a phone, and it doesn’t matter to most people who are struggling what brand of phone they wind up with. Unfortunately many people also can’t afford to give up their old used phone because of a company’s shitty values.
Maxwell
@Cheesla Apple has always been a luxury brand, they don't have cheap products. I don't consider anybody buying the more expensive phone option to be a Victim, period. Victims can't afford I-Phones. Victims are people who never in their life have even considered buying an I-Phone and now suffer the consequences of others. It's not like we're talking about people buying BREAD here. We're not talking about people being forced into this situation. We are talking about people spending their money on the option that they already knew was more expensive & less ethical. Why the hell shouldn't I blame the consumer, in this case? Genuine question, because while you say they're victims, they are in every way actively paying for this problem to get worse, for a company that they should have KNOWN would do things like this 10+ years ago. Because Apple HAS been doing this sort of scummy thing for a long time now. Victim? Of what, Stockholm syndrome? Wanting the "Newest" and "Coolest" Phone?? There are some industries you can call this the case. But for phones, it has always been "I-phone for the rich kids who want to be vain" and "One of literally dozens of Android phones for anyone else with sanity". To me it's been that way for sooo many years, I just can't see the victim part, at least not without extra elaboration.
DCS
I agree. And that's why people shouldn't be using the apps to pay for things like this, because they are unfairly paying 30% on top of a regular subscription. The government in the USA isn't even close to fixing this issue so the best we can do right now is be informed.
DCS
I have no way of knowing that and regardless, this still affects creators all the same. I would still doublecheck your charges though as Patreon isn't even based in the USA. (Their billing is somewhere in Europe?)
Cheesla
it’s not consumers’ fault that Apple is using illegal monopolistic tactics. they’re victims of this too. change can only happen when the us government actually starts enforcing our anti-trust laws
wisteriia
wait okay is this maybe just america? all my transactions on the app store havent been extra, at least as far as i know
DCS
Yes, you should, unless you want to pay 30% extra in the future. If you didn't use the *APPLE* app to pledge though, you're fine. This ONLY applies to people using Apple devices like an iphone or ipad.
DCS
Yeah, I don't own any Apple products either. They're a horrible company but also Apple stuff is just tough to use and SUCKS!
djpon.3
If i pledged through the app, should i unpledge and re-sign up through a browser? Im sorry this is happening :((
DCS
It's not an extra fee for porn, it's an extra fee for EVERYTHING. Youtube, Spotify, etc. My page isn't even allowed thru the Apple store, as I found out, because Apple hates porn or anything remotely sexual!
Melyssa Revilla
I have never used an Appñe product in my life, now will I. When I was in college, a bunch of people would usually end up with a phone they couldn't use becausw the battery died and no common charger would work for them. In the meanwhile, my inexpensive phone could last the whole day and use any charger. The brands produces everything to be obsolete within the year. The fact they want to earn extra money charging a fee for porn, makes no fucking sense.
Maxwell
Aand welcome to why I have never purchased any apple products. Sorry anybody with an I-Phone - You quite literally paid for this to happen, and now we all have to suffer the consequences of those using a device that we knew had insidious market practices for many, many years now
DCS
Thank you so much for your kind comment! The big pay-cut for me won't come until next year, so I've at least got time to prepare, but it's a scary prospect. Having to prepare for something like that isn't fun for anyone-- and I also feel bad for Apple users today who are finding out they've been overpaying for basically everything 😱💦 This is gonna be a big wake-up call for folks!
Bee
This sucks, I'm sorry to the apple users out there and I'm sorry they're taking so much of a chunk out of your pay. This is literally an awful scenario, but I will do my best to continue to support you and other patreon artists! You've been such an inspiration to me and your content is AMAZING! Sincerely, an android user.
DCS
👆 Basically! Also, this is an Adult Patreon page, so you can swear all you like! FUCK APPLE.
Stanley
So in conclusion, F### apples, pay double for 1 🍎, and use furry browser
cair0oo
Sorry!!! I’ll still definitely support either way since I have autoplay set up I it’s just a mentality thing for somepeople I think 😔😔
DCS
THANK YOU! Yeah, this will only affect Apple users.
DCS
...comments like this do not give me hope for this situation. 😱 You won't be the only one who simply doesn't wanna use a browser on their phone and this is going to really, really negatively affect my livelihood. I just don't get it. A browser is just another app...
cair0oo
Oh I think I’ll be good then I hope maybe possibly (I’m too lazy to open a browser on my cellular device 😭😭)
L8NiteGhostB
I don't have any apple stuff with patreon at all! Thank you for clarifying! I'll stick here until I can't anymore then :P
DCS
No idea! There's not a lot of transparency in this. I assume as long as you're not using the app to pledge then it's fine?
DCS
Doing something like this should be illegal. They already make all apps pay them over $100 each month just to stay active.
DCS
Subscribestar is the only one: https://subscribestar.adult/darkchibishadow which I mention every month via my Secret Club update and I link it every time I post about pages on Twitter too :P Patreon is still a fine place to support me: you just shouldn't be using the Apple app version. You should be doing it in browser. If you don't have an Apple device in the first place, this won't be a problem for you
cair0oo
Does this still include pledging on another device but still using the app
ThatChick
Apple is seriously the worst😭 I hate that they have such a monopoly on so many things
L8NiteGhostB
Are there any other platforms we can subscribe to you with? I'm guessing not considering you didn't mention any in the post...
