Data Driven Fiction
Medium’s Poker Game — I check
New Medium Partner Program. How to play not to lose
I learnt a lot, thanks to Medium’s Team and Buster for a great Medium Day.
Aug 12, 2023 Medium Day
In the world of poker, even a simple nose touch can be a profound “tell” that offers a glimpse into a player’s strategic mind; yet, with every nuanced gesture, remember it’s a game where players masterfully weave deception and strategy.
NEW Medium’s Partner Program 4th version (Game)
A game is like a fun activity where people play by rules to win or solve a problem. It can be about thinking, using skills, or just luck.
Game rules are like instructions that tell us how to play a game the right way. They say what we can and can’t do and how players should act. These rules make sure everyone has a fair chance to win and that the game is fun for everyone. They help players know what to expect and how to plan their moves. Rules are a very important part of games.
What happens if the rules change mid-game?
The simplest answer is that the most dedicated players will leave, and the pros will adapt at the speed of light.
If you want to leave Medium, don’t read on, it’s a waste of time, if you want to play according to the new rules, read on.
Here’s an analysis of the new rules based on an hour-long explanation by the wonderful Principal Product Manager Buster Benson [2]
“And that’s really what we can do here, because when incentives like money and distribution reach are on the table, there’s a lot we can do to help each other.” [3]
🟣 The Partner Program deals with money.
🟣 Boost is about sharing widely and reaching many people
Here’s a summarized list of the important information:
Engagement Points System
🟣 Stories earn points based on engagement
- clappers,
- highlighting,
- replying,
- follows,
- reading 30 sec (segments)
30 second segments (!)
Every time you start scrolling or tapping it, it starts at the clock and counts up from there.
Adjustments to Points:
Follower Bonus: Writers earn more points if a follower engages with their story, fostering deeper connections.
Boost Bonus: Stories approved to be “boosted” receive a multiplier on their points.
Bonus multipliers are additive, not multiplicative (e.g., two 2x bonuses on 10 points results in 30 points, not 40).
Reading Metrics:
- Stories only count as ‘read’ if viewed for over 30 seconds to ensure genuine interest.
- Only member views and reads are counted, avoiding potential pitfalls of sharing on social media.
- A high member read ratio grants a multiplier on points, while a low ratio divides the points.
“Making Money On Medium: Facts, Myths & Misconceptions”
A clear message from Buster Benson , Medium is not a platform to make money, if you want to make money from writing it is not on Medium, to quote the words of CEO Tony Stubblebine,:
“stop writing or stop writing here.“
Medium is a repository for your articles and gives you the opportunity to store articles for free and of course access to the world’s best community of writers — readers. 🙏
On Medium, 12.9 million authors have shared their stories. 80 people are employed
In “Data” We Trust
Buster Benson says he loves data, and that’s why the medium pays a lot of attention to data presentation. As the editor of Data Driven Fiction I share Buster’s passion, below is a screenshot of my applause stats on the left, and clapping on the right.
7 clappers magically become ONE (1)
The click stats don’t work, as they are part of the payment calculation, so we are probably in the world of fiction — Data Driven Fiction.
“It’s not the Robin Hood effect”
“I think. And it was not intentional, it wasn’t like us trying to like Robin Hood, like the the money from old stories and bring them to the new ones. No, it’s a side effect of the decisions we made.” [4]
The Robin Hood effect is like what Robin Hood did in stories: taking from the rich to give to the poor. In real life, this can happen when rich people pay more taxes to help those with less money. It’s a way to make things more equal and is often talked about when discussing fair money distribution. The new rules are not a Robin Hood effect.
Moving to the broader picture, it’s essential to consider how Medium’s rule changes fit within the larger landscape of online content platforms. As the digital content space becomes increasingly saturated, platforms must strike a balance between attracting quality creators and maintaining their financial viability.
Medium’s new rules reflect an attempt to navigate these choppy waters.
Nose touch
Finally, if you are interested in this topic, you can deepen your knowledge in the video available on Hopin. For me, the new Partner Program is a change in the rules of the game during the game, where the dealer transparently explains why we will be playing at the new table with new cards from the 1st of August.
Analysing Buster’s statement, I couldn’t help but count how often he touched his nose (I didn’t count forehead and chin touches) and decided that the nose was the best indicator.
The video lasted 54,04 minutes, I divided it by 14 touches (I did not add) the result = every 4 minutes the nose was touched.
In a poker game this would mean one thing to me — I check.
🟣 Buster Benson’s presentation [1,2,3,4] :
https://app.hopin.com/events/medium-day-2023/reception
Medium Day is a free, live online conference of Medium’s community where you’ll learn directly from people who share their lives on Medium.
Data-Driven Fiction is a storytelling approach that combines big data and AI to create engaging and informative narratives. It is a part of the broader concept of data-driven storytelling, which is used in various fields to present complex information in an easily understandable and engaging manner
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Dear Medium’s Team,
From the depths of my heart, I’d like to extend my profound gratitude for orchestrating such an enlightening and immersive experience with Medium Day. The opportunity to delve into the world of Medium, to learn from the plethora of voices that breathe life into its platform, has been nothing short of transformative.
Each session was a testament to the diversity, talent, and passion that thrives within the Medium community. The insights I’ve gained, the stories I’ve heard, and the connections I’ve made have all culminated in an enriching experience that will resonate with me for a long time.
Your dedication, meticulous planning, and genuine passion for nurturing this community shone brightly throughout the day. It’s evident that behind every word shared on Medium, there’s a team that believes in the power of those words, in the change they can instigate, and in the lives they touch.
Thank you for not just giving us a platform to express, but for also celebrating it with such fervor. I am immensely grateful for the chance to be a part of Medium Day, and I look forward with eager anticipation to future endeavors and shared moments of inspiration.
Warmest Regards, Eva
