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Medium Is Quietly Pushing Away Creators Like You and Me

The air seems different on Medium lately. A sense of unease, a feeling that things have shifted. And it all began on February 7, 2024.

While I know this might raise eyebrows, I believe there’s a crucial conversation we need to have about the future of creators on Medium.

There are two reasons why I think Medium is driving regular creators like you and me away.

Reason #1

In a recent interview, Medium’s CEO made some comments that caught my attention. Particularly regarding “everyday creators” like you and me.

He mentioned that a select few are making significant sums on the platform, exceeding $10,000 per article.

However, he went on to clarify that this level of success is not attainable for everyone.

It seems to be reserved for a chosen few, the “elite” of Medium.

Let’s look a little bit deeper into this. Here’s what the CEO said about AI-generated content:

‘You could grind $100 a month out of Medium with trash.’

While I’m not a proponent of AI content, the concerning aspect of this statement is that I’ve seen exceptional writers struggling to reach even that amount.

Does the CEO imply their work is shitty too? Or is the platform simply failing to adequately reward their efforts? I lean towards the latter.

The CEO further stated that achieving “hundreds of thousands of dollars” requires “writing to impress someone important.”

But who defines “important,” Mr. CEO? Does a certain degree or expertise automatically grant importance?

The last time I checked, every individual holds value, regardless of their position — be it a CEO or the “average reader” you seem to portray in a rather condescending manner.

He calls readers like you and me ‘the lowest common denominator’. If you write for them ‘you miss the opportunity to create real opportunities for yourself’, he says.

Really Tony? Was it really necessary to portray the common Medium reader like this?

There was one advice I did find myself agreeing with though:

‘Research something until you know more about it than anyone else, and then go get paid for that.’

Reason #2

Another observation that fuels my concern is the following. The CEO’s interview was published on February 7, 2024. Since then, I’ve noticed a significant drop in my own viewership.

Judge for yourself. On February 3rd, my articles garnered 1.2K views. However, since the 7th (coincidentally, the interview’s publish date), daily views haven’t surpassed 564.

You might be thinking, “Maybe it’s just a coincidence.” But I’m not alone in this. Several other creators I’ve spoken to reported similar viewership drops.

So, I would like to ask you to check your own stats, particularly for the period after February 7th. Do my observations resonate with your experience?

P.S. While I understand the platform’s desire to attract high-profile individuals, I want to ask Medium to reconsider this approach.

A platform needs a healthy balance, one that empowers and uplifts all creators. Not just a select few.

Here’s a link to the interview.