Medium emailed creators Friday evening: starting April 1, Partner Program eligibility requires 1,000 followers (up from 100) and consistent publishing (minimum 2 posts monthly). Writers who don’t meet the threshold lose monetization immediately.
The Impact
An estimated 40,000 Medium writers will lose Partner Program access. These aren’t hobbyists—many are journalists laid off from traditional media, using Medium as a primary income source while freelancing.
“I made $800 last month from Medium,” said one writer who will be demoted next month. “That’s my rent. Now I need to find 600 more followers in two weeks or I’m homeless.”
Why Medium Did It
Platform spokesperson Jordan Chen cited “quality over quantity” and reducing payout to “low-engagement content.” Translation: Medium’s subscription revenue flattened, and they needed to cut costs.
The move mirrors Patreon’s 2023 crackdown on small creators—platforms become less creator-friendly as they mature and prioritize profitability over growth.
What Writers Should Do
Don’t rely on one platform. Medium should be one of many income streams, not your only one.
Build your own audience. Email lists, personal blogs, newsletters—you control these. Platforms can change rules overnight.
Consider alternatives. Substack, Ghost, Beehiiv, or self-hosted WordPress. None are perfect, but diversification protects you.
Medium isn’t dead. But it’s no longer the writer-friendly platform it promised to be. Act accordingly.
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