>Would the average person pay $10/m for ad free social media? Or pay for add free search?

At some point, yes. But by that point they switch to the next service with ads and the cycle repeats.

Its also important to note that many can't pay for such services. I.e. minors. So they don't get a choice unless their parents sympathize. That helps indoctrinate the next gen into accepting ads. I think that late Millenial/early Gen Z was a unique group that grew up with minimal ads (or easy ways to block ads) before smartphone hoisted most control from them.