Medium’s totally lost its spark. It’s like showing up to a LAN party, only to find everyone’s playing Monopoly. I’m tired of this sinking ship and about jump out of it.
Medium, once a thriving platform for creative writers and engaging readers now feels like a ghost town where even echoes get lost. As a gamer and a media professional, I’ve tried to make the best of this sinking ship, but at this point, I feel like a captain entertaining passengers while the iceberg’s already hit.
Over the last few days, I’ve read hundreds of articles from great writers, all sounding alarms about Medium’s decline. Doom and gloom everywhere — and they’re right. Yet, I wanted to bring some light into the dark.
So, as the owner of Illumination Gaming, I crafted lighthearted stories to bring a smile to the frustrated writers who once enjoyed my content. These stories, however, earned me two cents. That’s fine; it’s not about the money. What matters to me are the supportive comments, the human connection.
But guess what?
Even that’s now being taken away by Medium’s algorithm. Yesterday, I spent an hour cracking 50 unique jokes curated from the gaming world. Fifty, not a few!
As a gamer, I knew my readers — those who once cherished my stories — would get a kick out of it. Yet, not a single reader saw it. Not one. Well, except for the chief editor of Illumination, who kindly published, read, and left a comment on his colossal ILLUMINATION publications. That’s it. Just one person in a sea of thousands.
50 Gaming Jokes in 5 Levels of Gamers
From Noob Chuckles to Pro LOLs — Level Up Your Laughter Like in Gamesmedium.com
Where the Hell Is the Promised Network Distribution?
What’s going on here? Are we lied to?
Medium staff, like Zulie Rane whose stories I once admired have been cheerfully and convincingly promising that every story submitted to a publication gets lovingly delivered to the writer’s followers and the publication’s followers, as long as it doesn’t break the rules.
But at this point, believing that feels like trusting a pirate’s treasure map. I can’t fault Zulie too much for being part of this absurd charade on the Titanic of platforms, but let’s just say my faith in her promises is sinking faster than the ship itself.
So, let’s do the math. I have 19,800+ followers, and Illumination has 187,000+ followers. What are the statistical odds of my story receiving zero views? ZERO.
This isn’t bad luck; it’s something far worse. Nobody believes in this BS in this modern age where algorithms run the show.
I believe there is no network distribution anymore. It’s a big, fat lie. Or perhaps the algorithm is flagging my stories as spam, ever since Medium unfairly terminated my Boost Nominator contract.
They claimed I “didn’t perform,” yet my stats told a different story. In fact, I have emails from the former Boost program manager praising my performance at 70% and giving me limitless nominations. Lies, all bloody lies.
A Platform That Prioritizes Spam Over Authenticity
I’m exhausted from the deceit.
Medium has become a haven for spammers and scammers, while genuine writers like me are shoved into a distribution jail.
Is it any wonder that esteemed writers like Tim Denning, Dr. Mehmet Yildiz, Britni, Nick, Ayodeji, and countless others no longer waste their valuable time here?
This sinking ship seems destined to become a playground for spammers, scammers, and bots offering free cruises to nowhere.
As for those one million paying members who came here expecting heartfelt stories and thoughtful writing? They might just jump ship faster than you can say, ‘Refund, please!’
Medium is ticking all the boxes on the ‘How to Fail 101’ checklist: zero transparency, no clear strategy, firefighting like it’s a game of Whack-a-Mole, and a corporate attitude that’s 100% arrogance with a solid dash of ‘Woke-mon GO.
Medium no longer deserve cheerful and playful gaming writers.
It’s a broken platform that can’t distinguish between authentic creators and opportunists. Scams, plagiarism, and low-effort content flood the site.
Meanwhile, those of us who pour our hearts into our work are left with nothing but frustration and disappointment.
I’m throwing in the towel. I’ll pen a farewell story — à la Dr. Yildiz and Britni — and after that, Medium gets downgraded to my personal Post-it note board. You may check out their poignant stories here and join the conversation if they resonate with you.
This Is My Last Story on Medium Until the Algorithm Is Fairly Adjusted
Publishing on ILLUMINATION publications will be paused until this unfair issue for authentic writers finds an amicable…medium.com
Goodbye, Medium!
It’s not me, it’s youmedium.com
And check out this eye-opening piece from silver-headed clever Mike who put the perfect photo on his insightful story.
Who the Hell Writes 15 Stories a Day? Medium, Stop Twisting the Truth & Remove Those Spammers!
Amid a payment fiasco rattling the digital writing world, Medium blames mythical spammers to dodge fixing a…medium.com
What am I gonna do it Medium from now on?
I’ll use it for quick updates and breadcrumbs pointing to the real stories on other platforms. Sure, those breadcrumbs might not be seen either, but hey, at least it’s an effort to keep my hard-earned audience in the loop.
I still adore the community here — why else would I have worked my joystick off contributing to their enjoyment?
But enough is enough.
I’m officially resigning from writing, editing, curating, and being the unpaid administrative assistant Medium never deserved.
For three years, I’ve given this platform five hours a day — three on publishing and two on onboarding new writers to 16 publications. I reviewed and published over 10,000 stories, curated around 5,000, and promoted over 500,000 on social media to bring readers here.
While fighting with spammers my account got cloned multiple times, I was put into distribution jail, and now not even a single reader can see my stories. WTH!!!
It feels like I was hosting a gaming marathon, only to realize the controller wasn’t even plugged in.
And how does Medium reward me? By burying my stories so deep, even the algorithm itself can’t find them.
I may be naïve, but I’m not stupid.
There are better platforms and projects worth my time. I’ll focus on my Udemy training programs and my Substack community.
Enough is enough.
Medium, you’ve failed your authentic writers and shown no ability to fix what’s broken. I lost my trust in you. This is a very bad management of a great platform with fantastic community.
A Constructive Call to Action
To my fellow writers and dear readers of Illumination Gaming: Let’s not dwell on the frustrations of this platform.
Instead, let’s focus on building communities where our work is valued. If you’re feeling disheartened by Medium’s state, consider these steps:
- Explore Alternative Platforms: Platforms like Substack, Patreon, or even your own website can provide a space for genuine connection and growth. Experiment with where your audience is most engaged.
- Join Our Community: I’ll be sharing resources, tips, and opportunities on Substack and Udemy to help writers, gamers, and content creators thrive. Let’s collaborate and support each other.
- Speak Up: Constructively share your experiences with Medium or other platforms to create awareness. The more we highlight the challenges, the more likely it is for meaningful changes to happen.
Medium may be failing, but that doesn’t mean we have to.
Let’s channel our creativity and resilience into spaces that truly appreciate our work.
The game isn’t over — we just need a better arena to play in.
Thanks for reading my story — assuming the pesky algorithm doesn’t flag it as spam (fingers crossed!). I purposely tagged Zulie, one of my favorite writers, just in case. If she spots it, maybe she’ll give the algorithm a little tap on the shoulder and remind it who’s boss.
For those who don’t know, I’m not just some button-mashing gamer — I’m also a YouTuber. Had to shut down my massive YouTube channel though, thanks to a terrible burnout. Yeah, turns out spending way too much time on Medium can do that to you too!
Here is my new video for the introduction of From Zero to Substack Hero — Level 4 on YouTube for free. Sam, if you see it, please note that this video is not monetized as you might think. It is a gift to our community.
/media/e9a2e19260b86e68bbbb2080c113219dVideo is hosted on ILLUMINATION Substack Mastery YouTube Channel
Thank you for watching it, sharing it, and subscribing to our YouTube channel. You are welcome to join our channel as a contributor. Please send your request via this registration portal adding your YouTube email to make you a manager for uploading your videos.
Do You Want to Go from ZERO to a Substack HERO in 2025?
Do You Want to Go from ZERO to a Substack HERO in 2025?
I’ve a great educational solution for freelance writers to take them a powerful and joyful journey in the new year.medium.com
As a New Year gift, I offered discounted prices on Udemy to my Medium and Substack friends. You can use these vouchers if you are interested in enrol these courses.
All funds earned from these courses will go to the Substack Mastery Boost Pilot program which we initiated in November 2024 which is planned to take until December 2025. Then in 2026 it will be a low cost education and marketing service for freelance writers.
Mike Broadly, DHSc beautifully articulated the value of the Substack Mastery Boost Pilot in a recent story.
We Are Building a Creative Support Path for Freelance Writers in 2025
We will offer customized services based on the needs of creators, freelancers, and content entrepreneurs with…medium.com
If you are a new reader, check out some of my most loved stories from different topics from my writing collection on this platform.
Gaming, Fun, and Humor: The Lifelines That Rescued Me From Social Media’s Grip on My Life
AI Can Now Create Photorealistic Videos From Just a Text Prompt
Finding Comfort in Blocks: How Minecraft Eased My First Time Loneliness and Intense Grief at 17
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This newsletter is to inform and inspire my readers. Click to read Technology, Gaming, Movies, and Social Media, by…aidenmc.substack.com
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