Summary

The author, a humorist on Medium, expresses dissatisfaction with the platform's payment model, which favors longer articles over short-form content, leading to a disadvantage for creators of humor, poetry, and visual art, who are now part of the "FBTA" (Fucked By The Algorithm) group.

Abstract

Roz Warren, a humorist who specializes in short-form content on Medium, critiques the platform's new payment system that prioritizes reading time over reader engagement. This change has significantly reduced her earnings, as her humorous posts are designed to be read quickly. Warren points out that she is not the only one affected; many other creators, including poets, cartoonists, humorists, and photographers, are also being "Fucked By The Algorithm" (FBTA). She suggests that the new rules incentivize quantity over quality, as longer posts equate to higher payouts, regardless of the content's impact. Despite her concerns, Warren acknowledges the platform's value and expresses gratitude for it. However, she is considering adding "FBTA" to her profile as a form of protest. Additionally, she offers her services as a writing coach and editor to help others improve and publish their work.

Opinions

The author believes that Medium's new payment model, which compensates based on reading time, is unfair to short-form content creators.
Warren implies that the algorithm change has devalued the work of poets, cartoonists, humorists, and photographers, who typically produce concise content.
She criticizes the shift towards rewarding longer content, stating that it encourages creators to prioritize quantity over quality.
Despite her criticism, Warren expresses appreciation for Medium as a platform and recognizes its founder, Ev Williams, for creating it.
The author suggests a mild protest against the algorithm change by adding "FBTA" to her Medium profile.
Warren positions herself as a resource for other writers, offering her expertise as a writing coach and editor for hire.

Are you FBTA?

We Short-Form Medium Creators Deserve Our Own Acronym!

I’m a humorist.

Most of my posts take — at most — a minute to read.

Now that Medium pays creatives for how long it takes to read our work rather than whether they actually enjoy it, my earnings are, to employ some highly technical jargon, in the toilet.

In other words?

I have been officially Fucked By The Algorithm.

And I am not alone!

The FBTA crowd is pretty large on this platform.

Poets! Cartoonists! Humorists! Photographers!

All FBTA.

And if you write Haiku? Fuck you!

(Which really ought to be Medium’s new motto instead of that boring little line about getting smarter about what matters to you.)

The new rules reward quantity over quality.

More words? More money! Tiny post? Tiny payout.

What can we do?

Nada! Zilch! Not a damn thing!

We’re lucky to have such a fine and fun platform at all.

Ev Williams didn’t have to build this lovely playground for us.

We should be grateful.

And I am. I am very grateful.

Still? as a (mild and totally ineffectual) form of protest, I’m thinking of adding FBTA to my Medium Profile.

Who’s with me?

Writing Coach and editor-for-hire Roz Warren, who writes for everyone from the Funny Times to the New York Times, can help you improve and publish your work. Drop her a line at [email protected]. (That’s Ros with an “s,” not a “z.”)

Are you FBTA?

We Short-Form Medium Creators Deserve Our Own Acronym!

How To Fail To Make Money On Medium

My Medium Life in the Post-Clap Era

Short Poem, Long Intro

How to Increase Your Read Time By Padding Your Posts