OPINION

Is It Elitist To Dismiss Medium Earnings as a Source of Viable Income?

An opinion piece on earnings and empathy in the Medium community

Disclaimer: This article is purely an expression of opinion and personal perspective. It is not intended to offend or discredit any individual or group.

As many of us might have noticed, the current trending topic on Medium is earnings, or rather the lack thereof. Many writers, including myself, have casually mentioned that Medium should not be considered a primary source of income. Although this perspective is practical, upon deeper reflection, does it not hint at an elitist point of view?

It is indeed true that as writers on Medium, we generally possess more privileges compared to some individuals in the world’s poorest regions. However, we must acknowledge the varying degrees of privilege among us. While we may easily dismiss Medium earnings as mere pocket money, it is important to recognise that for certain individuals, it could be a significant supplemental income or even their primary source of viable income.

In my opinion, the advice to not depend on Medium earnings seems to be coming from a place of financial privilege, regardless of the intention of said advice. If someone has other stable sources of income or financial support, they may find it easier to dismiss Medium earnings as inconsequential. Many of us on this platform have a full time job. However, let’s not forget those who, through no fault of their own, face significant barriers to conventional employment. Factors such as health conditions, especially chronic and mental illnesses, can severely limit job opportunities. In many cases, these individuals struggle to find suitable jobs due to a lack of accommodations, which I believe is a prevalent issue not only in Malaysia, but also in various parts of the world. We need to be more understanding of these challenges faced by our fellow writers because for those without financial stability, Medium could represent a significant source of income.

It can be argued that people could explore other online sources of income and not rely solely on Medium. I agree with this opinion, and as mentioned earlier, I myself have regrettably made such comments on Medium. Having multiple income streams and not banking entirely on one platform is obviously a smart approach. However, for some individuals, Medium might be their only achievable opportunity. The demand for writers might be low or non-existent in their country. As for other online writing job opportunities, many clients prefer native English speakers. Someone like me, who has not lived abroad and has limited interactions with native English speakers, may never achieve the same fluency level needed by a prospective client. Also, there is a skill issue at play. Not everyone has the knowledge to write content for paying clients.

The recent decrease in Medium earnings might not be a significant impact for many of us. However, it might mean a lot to some writers, depending on the standard of living in their countries. Successful Medium writers often share their monthly earnings, and based on my personal observation, the amount is often in the range of a few hundred US dollars (especially from August- September 2023). As you can see from the screenshot above, our average salary in Malaysia is only approximately 794 US dollars, and minimum wage (not in the screenshot) is approximately 318 US dollars. Writers who earn beyond this are actually earning more than an average Malaysian. Even Medium earnings of 200–400 US dollars is sufficient to cover monthly rental in Malaysia!

It cannot be denied that our other expenses such as groceries and utilities are considerably lower compared to other developed countries. However, considering the low salary rates, these costs still constitute a significant portion of our income. Also, we must remember that only local goods are affordable while imported goods remain expensive because of import duties and the exchange rates. In suburban areas like where I reside, supermarkets mainly stock imported products. I personally spend about 40 US dollars weekly on groceries alone.

Then there is the matter of electronic devices. The latest iPhone, for example, costs more than our average monthly salary. Phones from other brands are cheaper, but still quite expensive. The same goes for computers, which is the main reason why I don’t own one. Spending at least 400 US dollars on a laptop just for writing is hard to justify when it is a substantial portion of my income. Therefore, I write only on my tablet and phone. Of course, it has limitations on Medium. For example, it is not possible to send the first private note to someone else; I can reply but not initiate. That said, it is also very inconvenient to reply to a private note due to formatting issues. It might give you a better understanding of what I mean if you try using the mobile website on your tablets/phones. I dread replying to editors on private notes, but luckily, I haven’t had too many back-and-forth exchanges yet, as I am still new to Medium publications. Also, I am unable to join certain publications that require adding a clickable image at the end of articles. To my knowledge, it simply cannot be done on the Medium app or mobile website. While I do have a work laptop, using it for non-work-related purposes is not permitted.

I don’t write for money! I do it because I love writing.

How many times have we expressed this sentiment? Whether we openly acknowledge it or not, many of us write with the intention of earning money, even if it is not our primary motivation. If that weren’t the case, why would we put our articles behind a paywall? I understand that most of us value our earnings, no matter how modest, but we also must bear in mind that our careless words or actions might inadvertently cause distress to others reading our content on an online platform.

As mentioned earlier, our Medium writers come from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds. What might serve as supplemental income for one person could be a major source of income for another. It does not look good on us when we casually dismiss the reliance on Medium earnings without recognising these different circumstances. For some, a drop in Medium earnings could significantly affect their lives, as they might use it to cover essential needs like food, rent, utilities, and medical expenses. I believe we (myself included) should exercise caution and kindness when making statements online, as elitism does not reflect well on anyone.

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