COMMUNITY CONTROVERSY

Is the Friends of Medium Program Causing MORE Harm than Good?

Members are frustrated by low stats and spammers!

I read a story recently, that made me realize, it’s time to reevaluate the issue of whether or not the Friends of Medium (FOM) program is truly working out, to the benefit of the community, like I want so hard to believe.

The story I read, was written by Bruno T., and according to the story’s subtitle, he stated:

“I am writing this story while my account was suspended.”

I read his story with both interest and disbelief at what had apparently been happening, while I’ve been away from the platform for a few days.

By now, most of us already know about how Medium has started removing accounts on a massive scale.

This is all due to the increasing use of bots and other fraudulent behavior that has begun to get out of hand.

💬 I myself, can attest to the fact that lots of members are frustrated by low stats that are a direct or indirect result of so much spam that has found its’ way to the platform.

In a related story I shared on the topic, I raised the question of whether or not obvious violators should be “put on blast”.

💭 Just what should a writer do, when they find fraudulent activities and engagement on their stories?

👉 But a bigger question and more to the point, is whether or not the Friends of Medium program is starting to cause more harm than good for the community.

👉 Is the earning potential creating too much temptation for scammers not to find ways to abuse it?

Let’s consider what some members have been going through, and what they have to say about it.

The negativity associated with all the fraud and frustration, is causing a ripple affect.

Here’s how…

Medium accounts are regularly being targeted

Lately, it seems that Medium accounts are being targeted on a regular basis, and not just by the spammers and scammers.

Not only do the culprits set their sights on the various FOM accounts that wear a target on their backs, but this leads to Medium’s gestapo-like quality control moving in on many unsuspecting victims who have been targeted.

In their attempt to get a handle on the corruption that has taken root in the community, Medium has swooped in and taken action, with little to no warning.

Needless to say, this has created some bad feelings and extreme discontent from those who have been unjustly caught up in the mayhem.

For instance:

📌 Bruno — mentioned above — declared in the title of his story, there would be: A New Dawn: For All Who Follow Me. Based on his state of mind when he wrote the story, he was feeling more than just a little bit frustrated.

Now, notice what happened to the following writers, one of which was your’s truly.

📌 Ryan Canady wrote a story about what he went through mentally, during a five-day period that his account was wrongfully suspended: I Guess You Didn’t Think You’d Hear from Me Today.

In the story, he stated:

“I am glad to hear that my account has been reinstated and that I am able to publish again and grow my audience.

HOWEVER, I am frustrated with what has happened on several fronts.”

I suspect that frustration was only the half of it.

📌 On a personal basis, I could readily relate to what Ryan was/is feeling. I experienced something similar, in January, since becoming a FOM.

I shared my own feelings in the story: Medium GLITCH: Am I Sure I Want to Remain a Writer on Medium?.

Among the things that both of us felt the most concern over, was the way Medium went about suspending accounts, without any type of warning or notice to suspected violators.

In my own case, as far as I’m concerned, their letter of apology and acknowledgement that the error was theirs, did very little to undo the damage caused to my account and credibility.

👉 What could or should be done, about preventing the accounts of those who fall victim to scammers, from suffering from the impact to their stats?

Frustrated writers on Medium are speaking out

It’s no secret, that frustrated writers on Medium are coming forward and speaking out.

It’s hard not to write about what we see going on each day, as the community continues to be torn apart, as a result of something that was supposed to be beneficial for us all.

Can anyone really deny that the primary cause of this increase in fraudulent activity, is not connected to FOM in some way?

💬 I for one, hate to admit it, because I’ve been a staunch supporter of the program, but now I wonder is it truly accomplishing all the goodwill that it was supposed to generate.

📌 Feeling discontent, disgruntled, or simply annoyed at what they’re witnessing, various writers are voicing their less than glowing opinions about what’s happening on Medium.

In the story titled: Mass Disappearances of Medium Writers Gave Me Anxiety, writer Bella Smith ⭐ poised the question:

“Could this be the beginning of the end for Medium?”

Bella’s expression of concern was for many of the innocent writers who mistakenly got caught up in the attempt to rid the community of bad actors.

📌 For one reason or another, the mounting stress and frustration that writers are feeling, is being expressed more and more each day.

Sad to say, while some are merely …taking a sabbatical from Medium”, like writer Arthur Keith, others are thinking seriously about whether or not they want to remain on the platform.

After having my own bumpy journey, since becoming a friend of Medium, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t considering the same question.

Final Thoughts

I’ve been writing on Medium for close to three years, and in that time, I’ve gone through different periods of dissatisfaction over how things are sometimes done.

I even curated a list of nothing but gripe and complaint stories, about various issues brought up by writers on the platform.

On previous occasions, somehow, someway, I’ve been able to get pass whatever was causing me distress, and continue on as a devoted Medium member.

But lately, with so much negativity managing to seep into the community, I’m not sure if I should continue sticking around this time, or if I even want to.

I hate to admit it, but the air is starting to get kind of toxic. Is it just me, or do some of you feel it too?

It wouldn’t be the first time there was toxicity discovered in our little community of writers.

Thanks for reading…

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