You've hit the nail on the head.

The Internet is fine, until you try to monetize it.

You can grow with membership, donations, site perks, but it's slow growth.

Or you can go for a big check. And sell questionably sourced boner pills, online therapy, and vpns to obscure the fact that you use the site.

These sites are all great until people who invested expect a return.

Time for a government run social media platform?

Or maybe something similar to PBS but for social media? Government grants but independently run and crowd funded.

Free speech but not freedom to hate.