The One Thing Most People Don’t Get About ‘Friend Of Medium’

And why this feature is a win-win for everyone on the platform

If you’re reading this, chances are you’ve heard about the new membership tier on Medium. I hopped on the ‘Friend of Medium’ bandwagon and never looked back.

From what I’ve seen and read, the recently introduced ‘Friend’ membership level has sparked both excitement and skepticism among writers.

However, what some may overlook is that this new tier wasn’t developed with writers as the primary focus.

I am here to set things straight and tip the scale in the right direction.

While everyone and their neighbor are ranting about how the new tier doesn’t add any benefits for authors, I disagree.

I understand why people are more disgruntled than a cat discovering its favorite cardboard box has been recycled. But it’s not like someone just added ghost peppers instead of sugar to the Medium community potluck.

Every lackluster tier has a silver lining if you look at it from a different angle. So in this case, you’ve got to put yourself in the reader's shoes.

Readers form the foundation of Medium’s business model. So, like in any subscription-based system, the platform must cater to readers and ensure they receive the content they seek.

For many of us, that’s probably a tough pill to swallow, but it’s the blunt truth, and you need to take it with a pinch of salt.

It’s clear that Medium’s prime directive lies with its readers, not its writers, and I’ve learned to accept and now uphold this reader-centric stance

MEdium’s business model isn’t perfect, but I have to agree that it aims to offer readers the best human-written stories while providing the best online reading experience.

Instead of selling ads or selling your data, we’re supported by a growing community of Medium members who align with our mission. — Medium

Medium’s Product Director, Breana Jones, explains it in other words.

In her response, Breana goes on to clarify how Medium isn’t in the “business of pay-to-play, that’s why you don’t earn money off of reading your own story.”

In case there were any doubts left, Medium’s CEO, Tony Stubblebine, nails it in his comment hereunder.

The new tier aims to attract more readers to Medium. With increased visibility on the platform, more subscribers will come.

These aren’t my random thoughts; Medium’s Chief of Staff, Brittany Jezouit, seems to agree.

Thus, once this new feature is in full gear, authors have the potential to see an increase in their earnings, especially if they focus on what matters most:

Quality writing!

That’s likely the reason why I understand and agree with what the CEO is expressing here:

I can vouch for the rise in earnings, as my long-form content is already showing signs of increased earnings per read.

The bottom line is that the new “Friend” level is a win-win feature for both readers and authors on Medium.

By upgrading their membership, readers find themselves empowered. They can give more to the writers they love to read.

In a certain way, Medium has amplified the Boost Program, giving every writer the power to give micro-boosts in earnings to authors, as their reads pay writers 4x more than before.

To every reader on the platform, I want to make it clear that Medium cares!

They care so much about your experience that their team wants to make it as streamlined as possible, so they are listening and will cater to your needs. Don’t hesitate to reach out and let them know. Just send a ticket to their help center here.

Just as an example, at the request of some of the readers on the platform, maybe in the future, there will be an option to cloak the ‘Friend’ badge:

If you’re not a ‘Friend of Medium’ or if you’re experiencing any issues or having second thoughts about joining, I’ve delved into the entire process in my story below. I’m also happy to help if you want to discuss any other aspects of this or any other feature. Just drop me a quick comment below, and I’ll get back to you.