Priya’s article this week about retailers flocking to Instagram instead of Amazon got me thinking about growth and where startups are finding it. (I suppose running a business also has something to do with my interest in this topic.)

There have been several major shifts that are making it much harder—and more expensive—for startups to grow. They are worth exploring, because if these trends don’t reverse, they could have broad effects on the internet sector. And they are likely to affect larger companies, too.