Two Decades Later: Why Publishers Are Walking Away from Google AdSense

After 20 years as a Google AdSense publisher, this creator's departure exposes the core challenges facing small digital publishers: dwindling ad revenues (down to $100/year), uncontrolled policy changes that compromise site design, and regulatory compliance burdens that no longer justify minimal earnings. The decision reflects a growing trend where creators reassess the sustainability of ad-dependent models and explore alternative revenue streams. This case demonstrates how platform economics have shifted against individual publishers, making the long-standing ad-based monetization model increasingly untenable.