A quick update on the issue and why I stopped writing and publishing stories on my publications today
The Issue
A few days ago, I published a story on Medium with optimism, believing a temporary issue was affecting earnings for writers. However, upon deeper investigation, it became evident that the situation was more complex and disappointing.
Medium’s recent algorithm tweak has caused a significant and sudden decline in earnings for thousands of authentic writers, including many of the platform’s most established voices. This change has inadvertently labeled high-quality content as spam, undermining the contributions of dedicated writers.
For example, a short story I wrote about the California fires earned only 4 cents despite engagement from paying members and Friends of Medium (FoMs). Even FoM engagement, which is supposed to earn higher rewards, was not reflected accurately, exposing critical flaws in the algorithm.
Root Cause
In a blog post, Medium stated:
“We’ve made some tweaks to the way earnings are calculated to better reward genuine behavior and discourage gaming.”
However, this adjustment appears to be rushed and flawed. Authentic writers are now seeing their work devalued, while spam accounts seem to persist or even increase. Medium’s lack of transparency in implementing these changes has further eroded trust within the community.
Why It Matters
This issue goes beyond individual earnings—it affects the trust and morale of the entire Medium community. Writers who have invested years in contributing to the platform now feel sidelined. As one of the platform’s long-standing contributors, I have:
- Founded 15 publications to curate and highlight authentic voices.
- Written over 2,000 stories, reflecting decades of research and life experience.
- Mentored thousands of writers and helped boost their content.
Despite these contributions, my content has been flagged as spam, undermining the very values that made Medium a trusted space for authentic voices.
What Medium Needs to Do
To restore trust and ensure a win-win outcome for all stakeholders, Medium should:
- Acknowledge the Mistake: Admit that the algorithm tweak has unintentionally harmed authentic writers.
- Apologize Transparently: Issue a sincere apology to affected writers for the disruption and loss of income.
- Provide a Resolution Plan: Share a clear roadmap to fix the algorithm, improve transparency, and address community feedback.
- Engage the Community: Regularly update writers on progress and invite feedback to prevent similar issues in the future.
My Decision
Until Medium takes these steps, I am pausing all publication activities under my leadership. Writers are welcome to self-publish or explore other platforms. This decision was not made lightly but reflects my commitment to protecting the integrity of authentic writing.
My Plans Moving Forward
While I hope Medium realigns with the values that made it a great platform, I am focusing my energy elsewhere:
- Growing a Community on Substack: I’m leading a first-of-a-kind boost pilot program on Substack until December 2025. Then, I will turn it into a global education and marketing service at a low cost for freelance writers in 2026 to empower them.
- Supporting Freelance Writers: I aim to empower writers to diversify their content, own their audience, and increase their income independently of any single platform.
- Educational Initiatives: II will also help Aiden in his excellent training program, From Zero to Substack Hero, based on my Substack Mastery and the new Advanced Newsletter writing books, which will be around 65 modules on Udemy and will be offered via my Content Marketing Strategy Insights publication. I also have four new book projects to be published in 2025, as I did in 2024 by giving up my Medium addiction.
I invite those interested in this exciting journey to join me and my team. Together, we can build a sustainable and empowering community for writers and readers alike.
Dr Michael Broadly beautifully articulated the situation here earlier today. He and his science community volunteered to support me in this exciting and empowering initiative.
A Call to Medium
Mistakes are human, and everyone—including organizations—can grow from them. Addressing this issue with humility, transparency, and a commitment to fairness can restore trust and ensure the long-term success of the platform.
Thank you for reading this heartfelt message. I hope Medium chooses to realign with the values we all cherish and once again becomes a platform where authentic voices thrive.
With gratitude, love, and sincerity,
You can contact me via my website, on Substack, Patreon, LinkedIn, X, Facebook, or preferably ILLUMINATION Slack workspace, where I lead and run my Medium and Substack publications. I will be happy to support you.
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