Protecting Medium’s Mission | Latest Update
Medium Fights Back
Medium Crackdown Exposes Dark Side of Platform (?)
Kristi writes about everything she finds interesting and helpful to share with people. She writes what you need, not what she just wants. She supports new talent. Use this link to receive an email ensuring Kristi’s latest stories come directly to your inbox.
After all the controversy, Benson B finally speaks up. Do you know him? You should!
Just recently, Medium faced a lot of controversy regarding the sudden disappearance of writers. Not 1, not 2, NOT JUST 10!!.
I didn’t care, honestly. I don’t like them even. But it turns out I shouldn’t really like them… and neither should you. A recent crackdown raised a something troubling question:
Is Medium isn’t the haven for quality writing we thought it was?
We’re ramping up efforts to protect the Medium community from spam and fraud
Benson B, writing on the official Medium blog, outlines their recent crackdown campaign
The Problem
Spammers, scammers, and plagiarists are polluting the platform. They’re posting low-quality, often AI-generated content, all designed to trick the system into paying them.
But Medium is fighting back.
Last month, Medium’s Trust and Safety team took down 2%, not 2%? Ok, just 1.7% (I just rounded it off) of active Partner Program accounts linked to these fraudulent activities.
The goal?
To protect the platform’s integrity and ensure membership dollars go to real writers, not those trying to game the system.
Why Medium is Taking Action
Medium’s core mission is to reward authentic writing and meaningful engagement. The Partner Program was created to do just that. But when a few bad actors exploit the system, it hurts everyone.
It hurts readers who find their feeds clogged with junk, and it hurts genuine writers who lose out on earnings.
How They’re Fighting Fraud
Medium isn’t just suspending accounts. They’re analyzing behavior. They’re looking for patterns of fake engagement, spam comments, and anything else that doesn’t seem genuine. AI-generated content? It's a huge red flag, even if it’s disclosed.
They’re also listening to their community. Readers, editors, and other writers are all helping identify bad actors.
To put it simply, these are what gets you in trouble:
- Straight-up Scams: Accounts pushing phishing, crypto scams, or impersonating others get a swift suspension. This is very important to me because I have also been a victim of this kind of impersonation. Remember my post about someone's pretending to be me? That’s it.
- Multiple Fake Accounts: You can’t artificially inflate your earnings by setting up extra accounts to like your own work.
- AI-Generated or Plagiarized Content: Forget trying to slip fake writing past the editors. AI tools might be fun, but they don’t pay on Medium.
- Suspicious Engagement Patterns: Constant generic comments from the same group of readers? That raises red flags and can get you suspended.
The Bottom Line
Medium isn’t messing around. If you’re using spammy tactics or stealing content, expect to get shut down. It’s in everyone’s best interest to prioritize quality over quantity, to write honestly, and to let your words stand for themselves.
Medium is a dynamic platform, and as it grows, it will keep attracting those who want to take advantage.
But the message is clear:
Medium is committed to building a community for authentic writers and readers. They’re determined to ensure the Partner Program rewards what it was designed to.
