Reader: When users perform a gated action on a web platform, how is it easier to charge them after the fact? Surely this still requires a ledger.
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It's easier because you can treat each gated action as a simple counter increment. At the end of a period (e.g. monthly), you bill for the total. Instead of a financial transaction per action, you have one transaction per period.
Over time you may log counter increments in more detail, perhaps approaching ledger-like tracking. But you don't have to start with it.
It's also psychologically easier for a user to click now and pay later.
This is fine for utilities like hosting: you buy a service, get an invoice later.
On current social platforms, posts are free, so no tracking needed, but - endless noise.
If you want a real pro-human social platform, this doesn't work. Users and bots can create throwaway accounts, post junk, and never pay. But their content stays on the system and consumes the attention of current and future users.