FOLLOWING

I Got 99 Problems

And Medium is one of them

To be fair, this chosen title is rude. But I couldn’t hold it back since I got an e-mail from Medium stating that I’ll be kicked out of its Partner Program if I don’t reach the minimum number of 100 followers. I had to read it twice to realize the situation.

Some readers might feel reminded of rapper Jay-Z by my title. My first association was Jay-Z’s song title “99 problems”, not only because his lyrics are about problems he has to deal with. I honestly don’t know why it just occurred to me.

Please, don’t get me wrong. I like Medium. I read enriching stories — daily. Various readers and writers contribute to a world that is in troubled times. Medium is so much more than a mere platform. It’s a place for exchange. We’re all connected. Everyone benefits from Medium, apart from the earnings. The intellectual gain is much more valuable!

We mostly write about self-improvement (How To Be Successful in Your Writing; How To Find Your Center), but we should use Medium for criticism, too. We, writers on Medium, can be voices for marginalized people all over the world. Citizens of countries in which freedom of the press is systematically restricted need a platform for exchange. Critics fearing sanctions, violence, and death need a place where they’re able to exercise their right to speak up. Freedom of expression is a great good. We must learn to appreciate it more.

I’ve been on Medium for almost two years. I haven’t got the time and the energy to increase the number of followers because it wasn’t important to me. Instead, I attached importance to the intellectual aspect of Medium. But now, it’s becoming harder to be recognized. It’s becoming harder to even gain 100 followers. Medium’s e-mail shows me that it’s not about the exchange anymore, which should be definitely remunerated, too. Instead, it’s about saving money by getting rid of writers who don’t provide capacity to establish a proper following.

Thanks, Medium, but no thanks.

You can sign up to join Medium here. If you sign up using my referral link, I’ll receive a portion of your membership fee at no extra cost to you. You’ll be then part of the Medium community!