Medium is Changing and It’s for the Better

Summary

Medium is revamping its platform to prioritize quality content and engagement over quantity, revising its Partner Program to better support writers who contribute thoughtful and original articles.

Abstract

Medium has recently implemented changes aimed at enhancing the quality of content on its platform. The company has expressed concerns over the prevalence of low-quality, clickbait, and AI-generated articles that prioritize quantity over substance. To address this, Medium is encouraging writers to focus on creating fewer but more impactful stories that offer genuine insights, personal stories, and knowledge. The changes to the Partner Program include the removal of the 100-follower requirement for monetization, which had led to unproductive practices like "follow for follow" among writers. Instead, Medium will now emphasize engagement metrics such as read/listening time, claps, highlights, replies, and new followers as indicators for earning potential. The platform also introduced a read ratio adjustment to ensure that content is genuinely engaging readers for at least 30 seconds. These updates aim to create a more valuable experience for both readers and writers, fostering a space where sincere and researched writings can thrive.

Opinions

The author acknowledges that the previous system inadvertently encouraged content pollution due to the focus on reaching 100 followers for monetization.
There is a concern that the new system might lead to writers soliciting engagement, similar to YouTubers asking for likes and follows, which could detract from the sincerity of the articles.
The author is optimistic about the changes, believing they will create a safer space for creatives, artists, and writers, and is inviting such individuals to join the Artist Aid Publication for support and exposure.
The author expresses gratitude to readers for engaging with the content and subtly encourages support through a "Buy Me a Coffee" link, indicating a personal investment in fostering a community for artists and writers.

Medium is Changing and It’s for the Better

Recently Medium has made some changes on the platform and in its Partner Program Requirements.

In their article here, Medium focuses on how the internet encourages quantity over quality and an open platform where people can write in an ad-free interface like Medium cannot really afford to have quantity over quality. They want to stimulate more original, quality personal stories, wisdom and knowledge and discourage clickbait, AI-generated writings, misinformation and other polarizing negativity on the platform.

The Main Message is to write fewer stories with more thought into them. There are a lot of writers who are putting their heart and soul into their work stand behind the profiles that write a lot of content based on algorithmic formulas. Yet, great writing can do a lot more than just grab attention but it can change perspectives and broaden one’s horizon.

There is already content pollution on the platform with profiles that generate a lot of content without deep value to it and trying to pass the 100 followers threshold so they can monetize the content. Unfortunately, this keeps a big portion of the writers on the platform who stimulates sincere stories or researched writings that offer intellectual perspectives.

The Good News

I have been in conversations where writers are trying to reach 100 followers through “follow for follow” comments. It does help to gain followers but creates a cacophony of niches because this collective effort to reach 100 followers happens through the articles that promote “how to make money on Medium” which means there is a diverse reader profile. This approach to gaining followers kills the motivation of many writers as well as discouraging new writers whose voices should be heard.

Medium heard these conversations and remove the 100-follower requirement from their partner program. Starting in August the Partner Program aims to serve better to the writers and create value for the reader. Some of the changes include the way in which writers can earn from the Program. Let’s look at them together,

Engagement Points — Read/listening time, the number of people who clapped, highlighted, and replied to your story, as well as the number of people who followed you for the first time after reading your story will be the earning point.

Follower bonus: When the member reading your story currently follows you or the publication this story is published in.

Boost bonus If your story gets boosted.

Read ratio adjustment: People who read your story for 30 seconds or more on the given day will adjust the value of all the points earned either up or down.

My only concern in this new system would be the possibility of Medium writers turning into Youtubers who ask for likes and follows at the end of their articles and it should be okay. Still, it does take a bit of the sincerity of the article yet, it is known that most readers are passive ones who do not engage with the writers.

Let me know what you think of these new ways.

I am so glad you made it to the end. I would love to create a safe space for creatives, artists and writers with helpful art world tips and case studies.

If you would like to be a part of Artist Aid Publication as an artist or writer I would like to see your story! Find it here https://medium.com/artist-aid

Feel free to follow me if you like what I bring to the table.

I will put this on the side so whenever you feel like giving me a cup of coffee you can easily do so.