Medium Is a Dangerous Business…

Where did our friends go?

Did you notice it?

A couple of days ago, a bunch of writers disappeared — seemingly overnigh — without a trace.

I actually didn’t notice, not at first. It wasn’t until a few posts popped up about the Great Medium Disappearance that I started to check. Brandon Springer was gone? He was one of my favorite writers here! Who else?

Medium Is Risky

Like any internet platform, Medium reserves the right to suspend accounts. Sometimes this is a good thing — when bots and spammers get out of control Medium has the power to clean them out.

But this means you always run the risk of getting suspended for doing something, even unknowingly, wrong. Or maybe being on the unfortunate end of a mistake. After all, those who run Medium are only human, too.

So it’s always a risk to put all your eggs in one basket — even one as great as Medium.

I’ve Been Banned

I’ve been banned before, too. Not on Medium. But I have a little side hustle (I might write about it sometime) and I’ve had my account shut down without warning. Thankfully, I got it reactivated but they told me I broke a rule I had no idea I had broken.

I thought I was careful — I wasn’t careful enough.

So What Happened?

I honestly don’t know anything more than anyone else. From what I’ve heard it has to do with accounts maybe commenting too much? Acting like bots, so to speak.

Commenting a lot has been one of the main (and only) ways to grow engagement here on Medium. I can see why Medium might want to crack down on this since it incentivizes shallow engagement. You know, quantity over quality, that kind of stuff.

But I’m pretty sure some of the people who disappeared were real writers. If commenting a lot is the reason they’re gone I’m a little surprised I’m still here. I probably was *this* close to the edge without realizing it.

What Should We Do?

So I’m not saying don’t comment. I’m also not saying (anymore) to comment as much as you can. I’m not sure what changes are coming and what the future holds. All I can say is do your best, write what you want to write, make some friends, and enjoy the time you’re here for however long it is.

Just don’t get overconfident.

Medium is a dangerous business.

Thanks for Reading!