Medium is dying and they're sinking their pushing their writers away
Medium are pushing their writers away
I used to write daily on Medium, and I took my Medium Partner Program earnings from $5 a month to $5000 in 2020/2021. I was living in Ghana, West Africa at the time, and this is life-changing money over there.
I rarely post on Medium these days however, I’m about to start rebuilding my niche content pages soon. Although times have changed over on the Medium platform, it’s still possible to utilise Medium as an extra income stream.
If you’re new to Medium, you might not know about the major changes on the platform, and honestly, I’m not impressed with how Medium are treating their writers right now. I understand, they’re trying to protect the creative integrity of the platform however, they’re destroying income streams and frustrating writers as a result.
So, what’s happening on Medium right now?
Medium used to be a safe space for writers, but in my opinion, it’s not anymore. Medium recently announced that all “meta’ stories will lose partner program eligibility. Meaning that any Medium-related stories can no longer earn money.
”Please remove all Medium-focused writing from behind the paywall by April 1st, 2025 We appreciate your assistance and understanding.”
This is a quote from the Medium team to alert all writers that they must remove Medium-related stories from the Paywall by April 1st. Honestly, this is unacceptable to demand this from writers.
Firstly, it’s tedious, and writers have better things to do with their time than to spend hours removing stories from the paywall. Secondly, if Medium want to change the rules, these rules should apply for new stories only.
First, Medium introduced the Medium referral program where writers could earn commission for every new member who signed up for a paid membership through their referral link, then they scrapped this a year later.
By May 2025, all writers who earned monthly from the referral program will no longer receive these earnings.
It’s very sad that Medium seem to have a habit of pulling the rug whenever they feel like it. There’s a real, and serious problem with leadership over there at Medium HQ and it’s having a major impact on writers.
I recently read a few stories by prolific Medium writer Justiss Goode, and she’s not happy about this Medium shift, as Justiss is very well known for producing several Medium-related stories per week.
Here’s an article from Justiss:
I honestly understand the reason behind Medium’s decision, but they shouldn’t punish existing writers. They should just focus on implementing this new rule for new articles only. Therefore, writers will avoid writing Medium-related stories, and focus on so-called “authentic” writing.
The truth is, what is authentic writing anyway? Writing that comes from the soul? Sometimes, writing about the platform you’re posting on is authentic because you’re sharing your thoughts about how the platform works, and teaching others how to use the platform effectively, or optimise the content they already have.
Gone are the days when you got paid for speaking your mind, and blogging was about sharing your thoughts. Now, you really can’t say anything without getting shut down completely by the platform.
Here’s what would suggest if you’re a Medium writer but you still want to write about Medium:
- Start a Substack Newsletter
- Create a YouTube channel
- Write on Vocal
- Create your own newsletter and sales funnel
You can utilize all these platforms to replace your lost Medium earnings. I would also move most of my Medium-related stories to Vocal, and repurpose them as YouTube videos as well. You can also build an entire newsletter that focuses on writing platforms and other content platforms.
There’s so much you can do, never put all your eggs in one basket. This is always a mistake, and I’ve done it before, it didn’t end well. I remember a time when I earned money from one platform only, and when the platform collapsed, I found myself in the trenches with no money, and no income at all.
So, I would highly recommend focusing on your own newsletter and blog, and using these platforms to raise brand awareness, that’s what I would focus on. Never get too comfortable with one platform, you’ll always regret it.
So, where am I posting now?
- I currently post on several blogs
- Vocal
- YouTube –I have a new YouTube channel, and several faceless ones
- I rarely post on Medium but I will start posting more
- I’m about to go all in on Linked In soon, let’s see how that goes.
As I post this, I’m doing a 100 article challenge on Vocal, it’s a tough one, but I have to complete it for my own sanity!
What do you think of the changes on Medium? Do you still think it’s a viable option for writers, bloggers, digital marketers and contentpreneurs?
Right now, I'm building several income streams using ChatGpt and other platforms, here's how.
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About the Creator
Edina Jackson-Yussif
I write about lifestyle, entrepreneurship and other things.
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Every writing goal I made for the year is a wash. It has been this way for a while, but I think it's important to be open about my failures and the reality of how life can get in the way. This is especially true considering the several times I have posted on Vocal about my writing goals, how I was changing my approach, and where I was hoping to be for the upcoming year. I will probably do that again in a couple months, but for now, it is time to acknowledge where I am today.
By Kay Husnick17 days ago in Journal
Comments (20)
"Brilliant piece!"
I haven't written anything on Medium for a while. I haven't been back in the game for very long because I've been unwell. However, I do agree with you. Medium can't honestly expect writers to go back through their posts and clear Medium-related posts out, some people will have thousands. I also think it is unfair on writers like you and Justiss who write advice, and also about the positives and negatives of writing on Medium to help others. I don't think Medium understand the potential that Medium-related posts have for the site, in the sense it helps new writers make informed decisions about using the platform, whilst giving advice to help those who are struggling with their writing.
I had no idea Medium changed so much. I started writing both there and here again recently and I found this to be very helpful.
I left Medium a long time ago because I felt that every time that I was about to make some type of income they changed the rules. Would you be interested in making a blog about how you make the faceless youtube videos?
This article expresses a frustration that many writers have felt, but few have dared to voice so honestly: the pain of writing deeply on a platform that no longer seems to value such voices. What the author denounces is not just an algorithm shift or a technical glitch—it’s a loss of meaning. And that makes it more than a complaint; it becomes a quiet farewell, written from disillusionment. As a philosopher, I can’t help but see in this piece a broader reflection on what happens when the worth of words is subjected to the logic of visibility. When a platform built to share ideas turns into a stage where what wins is what’s fast, viral, and shallow. The article doesn’t just point to what Medium has stopped doing—it also reveals what writers have lost: community, motivation, and faith in the value of reciprocity. I found it brave, though painful, that the author admits they no longer feel joy in writing like they used to. That’s not resignation—it’s emotional honesty. Rating: 9/10 — A text full of truth and quiet disappointment. It doesn’t ask for applause, just attention. And it reminds us that behind every platform, there’s either a broken promise or a kept one… and behind every writer, someone who just wanted to be read with care.
Congratulations my great job, well done ✅
good
🎉 Congrats on Top Story — well deserved! 🙌 Keep it up! 💪🔥
🌙✨ Good night, my dear… The name of the night is to find you in the moonlight… Sleep comes, but you come first in dreams. Your name is always in prayers and supplications. Be well… Shine like the stars in the night sky in your heart.
Thank you, Ma'am, for your valuable advice
Congratulations on your top story, Edina! I wrote on Medium from 2021 to August 2024 and edited for two publications, one being New Writers Welcome. I jumped ship when I started seeing a shift that very much displeased me. I was a top writer and poet, and suddenly everything just didn't feel right. Sometimes, I contemplate returning to give it another shot, but I am unsure if it would be worth it. I remember Justiss and having wonderful interactions with her.
I’m new in both platforms and I was curious about how it works, this article helped me to understand a bit about medium, but what about vocal? How it works?
That's too bad to hear about Medium - I used to post their but haven't a while. You may want to also consider your stories on Benable - Benable is a tool to create shareable lists of things you recommend! You can skip the waitlist and create your own shareable lists by signing up using my invite link: https://benable.com/i/KKM2X It's like Pinterest but a lot easier to use since you don't have to work about Pin size and all that. How do I find you on YouTube?
Instead of nurturing its community, Medium seems to be pushing creators away. Hopefully, they’ll realize the long-term value of their writers before it’s too late.
Any platform with so many changing rules are most likely to fail... Then again, I'm from a country that Medium banned from writing...
I have 2700 articles in Medium. I have seen it's downfall. I still write. https://medium.com/@seemabiotech83
This was such an eye-opener Edina. I really admire your strategy of not relying on one platform and building multiple income streams. It's smart. The way you're repurposing content across vocal, youtube, pinterest and even linkedIn is a solid approach. 👍
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Apparently you don't know much about Medium. My wife writes on Medium and still does. She just upgraded to a FOM. The information about the platform and what happened per my wife Susan Payton, who also writes on here, is available online if anyone cared to research it. It makes her mad, to see articles like this, bashing the Medium platform. If you look online she is telling me, because she didn't think she could find this story if she logged in under her own name. The long and the short of it, when you were making your life changing money, Evan Williams the found of Medium, and the co-found of blogger and Twitter was funding the Medium platform out of his own pocket. Evan Williams the founder had been funding Medium out of his own pocket since 2016. Never mind she said she will write her own article about Medium.
I've been on Medium since Sep 2022, and the MPP since July 2023. And even in that time the algorithm has changed a bunch of times. The stats don't seem to make sense, but I can see there are many of us who, since December 2024, are paid from zero to cents now rather than dollars, for reads. But as you say, in 2021 writers were earning thousands. Medium are encouraging more academic and data science articles.
Personally - I'm a writer on here to share my content - my poetry and my short stories - for the love of it. I'm not on here to generate income streams by creating articles about medium, or hot button news topics, or using AI so I can crank out a ton of work. These changes don't effect me and I'm unbothered by them. I feel like they are trying to keep the focus of the platform honest and safe for creatives - not those trying to make a quick buck. Just my opinion.