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Medium is a battlefield.
If you think it’s all friendly competition, you’re in for a rude awakening.
Beneath the surface, there’s a ruthless, cutthroat race for views, followers, and clout.
Here’s the unfiltered truth about the dark side of Medium writing.
1. Backstabbing for Clout
Forget about mutual support. Some writers will smile in your face and stab you in the back. They’ll praise your work publicly but trash-talk you in private. All for a bit of clout. It’s a dirty game where trust is scarce, and alliances are fragile.
2. Gaming the Algorithm
Some writers have turned manipulation into an art form. They game the algorithm with clickbait titles, keyword stuffing, and fake engagement. It’s not about quality; it’s about getting ahead by any means necessary. Here are the detailed tactics they use:
Step 1: Crafting Clickbait Titles
- Sensationalism: Use sensational or shocking words to grab attention. Titles like "You Won't Believe What Happened Next" or "The Secret That Will Change Your Life" are designed to provoke curiosity.
- Emotional Triggers: Tap into readers' emotions with words that elicit strong feelings. Titles with words like "amazing," "unbelievable," or "heartbreaking" tend to get more clicks.
- False Promises: Sometimes, the title promises something the content doesn’t deliver, just to lure readers in. This can lead to high click-through rates but often results in disappointed readers.
Step 2: Keyword Stuffing
- Overuse of Keywords: Repeating keywords excessively throughout the article to manipulate search algorithms. This can make the content awkward to read but helps in appearing in search results.
- Keyword Variations: Using different variations of the main keyword to cover all possible search queries. For instance, if the main keyword is "Medium tips," variations like "Medium writing tips," "best tips for Medium," and "Medium strategies" are also used.
- Unnatural Placement: Inserting keywords in places where they don’t naturally fit, like in subheadings, image captions, and even author bios.
Step 3: Generating Fake Engagement
Buying Claps and Followers: Purchasing claps, comments, and followers from third-party services to create an illusion of popularity.
Engagement Pods: Joining groups where members agree to like and comment on each other's posts to artificially boost engagement metrics.
Multiple Accounts: Creating multiple Medium accounts to like, clap, and comment on their own articles, inflating engagement figures.
Step 4: Manipulating Content Structure
Clickbait Introductions: Starting the article with a sensational statement or question to hook readers instantly.
Teaser Content: Keeping important information towards the end of the article to ensure readers stay longer, boosting reading time metrics.
Frequent Breaks: Using short paragraphs, bullet points, and images to make the content appear more engaging and increase time spent on the page.
3. Sabotage and Downvoting
Jealousy runs deep. Some writers will sabotage your success by downvoting your articles, flagging them for no reason, or spreading false rumors. It’s a dirty tactic to knock you down a peg and clear the path for their own rise.
4. Plagiarism and Idea Theft
Watch your back. Plagiarism and idea theft are rampant. You share a brilliant idea, and next thing you know, someone else is publishing it as their own. Protect your work and be wary of those who seem too interested in your drafts.
5. Fake Friendships
Not everyone who follows you is a friend. Some are just fishing for information, looking to steal your strategies, or hoping to ride on your coattails. They’ll ditch you the moment they get what they want. Choose your friends wisely.
6. Comment Section Wars
Comments are supposed to be for constructive feedback, right? Wrong. Some writers use them as battlegrounds to undermine their rivals. Passive-aggressive comments, subtle digs, and outright insults – all to make you look bad and them look better.
7. Misleading Metrics
Don’t trust the numbers blindly. Some writers boost their stats with paid followers, fake claps, and engagement pods. It’s all smoke and mirrors to create the illusion of success. Authentic growth takes time, but fakery can make them look like stars overnight.
8. Undermining Newcomers
New writers often face the harshest attacks. Established writers sometimes see newcomers as threats. Instead of offering guidance, they’ll belittle their work, criticize harshly, and try to drive them off the platform. It’s brutal, but it happens.
9. Backchannel Whisper Networks
There are whisper networks where writers gossip, plot, and scheme. These backchannels can make or break your reputation. One wrong move, and you could find yourself blacklisted from influential circles. It’s a high school clique on steroids.
10. The Mental Toll
All this competition isn’t just stressful; it’s mentally exhausting. Constantly watching your back, dealing with sabotage, and navigating a minefield of fake friends can take a toll on your mental health. It’s a relentless pressure cooker environment.
Medium isn’t the friendly, supportive community it’s often painted as.
It’s a cutthroat arena where only the strongest survive.
Recognize the tactics, protect yourself, and play smart.
The unspoken competition is real, and it’s not for the faint-hearted.
Stay sharp, stay resilient, and never let your guard down.
For more insights into the realities of online writing, check out [Wait But Why](https://waitbutwhy.com) and [Medium’s Help Center](https://help.medium.com).
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