449
A reminder in the age of the Fediverse: if you're not the customer, you're still the product.
(slrpnk.net)
OP was taking about Tumblr, but I think it applies even more to the Fediverse: users need to develop an ethos of paying to support the sites they use. Otherwise advertisers pay the bills and call the shots.
This goes for news media too. Yeah, there are shitty established players that are glorified ad mills, but (at least in Canada) we're getting smaller independent outlets that are supported by consumers directly.
So, if you have the chance, pay for your local news outlet.