Navigating Medium: New Standards for Following Writers
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Introduction: Embracing Change
The landscape of Medium is evolving, prompting me to reassess how I engage with other writers. My follower count has fluctuated throughout 2024, and I recently experienced account suspension. If you missed my previous account suspension story, it's crucial to understand what led to these changes.
Understanding Account Suspension
I believe the recent account suspensions stem from Medium's Trust and Safety Team's efforts to enhance platform quality. As we navigate this rainy season, it's essential to be cautious when creating content and interacting to avoid being incorrectly flagged by spam filters.
Your genuine engagement means a lot to me. If my story doesn’t resonate with you, it's okay to skip the applause. What matters most are the authentic connections we forge.
Section 1.1: Reviewing Medium's Guidelines
I urge everyone to familiarize themselves with Medium's rules, particularly regarding spam and site misuse.
Key Points on Medium's Rules
Active users may find themselves mistakenly identified as spam if they overly engage—such as excessive clapping, commenting, or highlighting. It's also important to avoid overusing mentions solely for promotion, as this can lead to suspensions. Participating in bounty campaigns can also risk your account status. Lastly, refrain from merely reposting others' content for personal gain.
Section 1.2: My New Follow-Back Criteria
I've decided against a “100% follow-back” policy. My follower growth may now be slower, resembling a superhero without their cape. However, I believe this is a necessary change aimed at cultivating a community with authentic users. Previously, I would follow anyone back, regardless of their content, leading to a decreased readership ratio.
New Rules for Following Others
I will only follow back users who have at least one published story behind a paywall, indicating they are either “Medium Members” or “Friends of Medium.” Even if they meet this criterion, I won’t follow users who frequently violate Medium's rules by posting inappropriate content. I value writers who resonate with me and add value to the reader community.
Moreover, many talented writers have yet to join the Medium Partner Program, and I believe that financial incentives can motivate continuous writing. This is why I am cautious about following non-members, as their interactions do not contribute to my growth. By adhering to these new standards, I’ve had to remove several users who don’t fit my criteria.
Gentle Reminder: AI-Generated Content
Most users in the Medium Partner Program have likely received updates regarding AI-generated content. It’s essential to verify if your stories have been flagged as AI-written. Several free AI content detection tools can help with this.
Conclusion: Towards Meaningful Connections
While it’s challenging for me to not follow back every genuine user, I believe these new following criteria will help cultivate a vibrant and engaging community. I am hopeful that this selective approach will lead to more meaningful interactions.
“Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future.” — John F. Kennedy
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