Steemit needs the ads for users and nonusers, but I wouldn't worry about the bear market. A recession is coming and the cryptos will be a safe haven asset this time around like gold and silver were in 2008. Steem and Steem Dollar are in a good place for this. Cryptos are way to hard to buy with a card, and mining takes a lot of know how and specialized equipment. This means when stocks go bear and cryptos go bull Steemit will be overrun with newcomers. This is why I say users need to see ads too.