Behind Medium’s Follower Fallout – Was It a Mistake or Mismanagement?

FROM CLEANUP TO CHAOS

When a Clean-Up Turns into a Crackdown

Unintended Consequences: When Medium’s Guard Against Bots Backfires. Photo by Fabien TWB on Unsplash

A Writer’s Worst Nightmare – The Day My Followers Vanished

Did you notice this curious situation with Medium and its recent follower fiasco, which, honestly, has more twists and turns than a high-speed chase scene in an action movie.

So here I was, minding my own business, when I started noticing a dip in my Medium follower count.

At first, I thought, “Maybe my last article wasn’t a hit?”

But when I saw other writers voicing the same concern (for example DeryaSefer mentioned in her “Is The “Great Medium Purge” Over?” article recently), I realized it wasn’t just me. Something bigger was happening.

After poking around a bit, I discovered that Medium had launched a crackdown on scammers and fake accounts.

On paper, that sounds fantastic, right?

No one wants their feed cluttered with spam or to be duped by some bot.

But as the numbers dwindled, it became clear that some genuine accounts were also getting axed in the process. That’s where things got messy.

Now, losing followers is a bummer for anyone trying to build a presence or a brand.

But for genuine writers and creators who’ve poured their soul into their work, watching their follower count drop for no fault of their own? That’s heartbreaking.

And it begs the question: How did the real accounts get mistaken for fake ones?

One theory is that some users might have mistakenly reported genuine accounts.

But this feels like a tech-savvy platform like Medium should have safeguards against such mishaps, right?

Unfortunately, even the best systems aren’t foolproof, and it seems like some genuine creators got caught in the net meant for the bad guys.

My Nightmare with Instagram

This whole debacle reminds me of a personal nightmare I had with Instagram.

I find out there’s an imposter account out there, parading around with my identity, using my profile photo, and my personal album.

Creepy, right?

Naturally, I reported it, expecting Instagram to leap into action and take down the fraudster.

But here’s the kicker: Instead of targeting the imposter, Instagram blocked my account.

My genuine, real-deal, this-is-me account. I reached out to their customer service, tried every avenue available to plead my case, but hit wall after wall.

In the end, I couldn’t get my account back.

This experience was frustrating, to say the least.

It showed me firsthand how these well-intentioned measures to protect users can backfire spectacularly.

Medium is purging the Bots?

And now, seeing something similar unfold on Medium, it feels like déjà vu.

The impact of such blunders isn’t just a number game.

It’s about the trust and connection between platforms and creators.

Every time a genuine account gets unfairly penalized, it chips away at that trust.

For emerging writers and creators, building an audience is tough enough without these hurdles.

And when they see their hard-earned followers vanish overnight, it can be a major setback, not just numerically but also mentally and emotionally.

So, what can be done?

First off, platforms need to refine their detection mechanisms. They need to ensure that their nets catch the right fish, so to speak.

Second, there should be a more transparent and efficient process for appealing wrongful actions. No one should be left shouting into the void, like I was with Instagram.

Moreover, this situation highlights the importance of not putting all your eggs in one basket.

Relying solely on one platform for your audience and reach is risky, as these incidents show.

Diversifying your presence across multiple platforms can provide a safety net if one goes haywire.

While the intent behind cleaning up platforms is commendable, it’s vital that these actions don’t penalize the very users they aim to protect.

The balance between security and fairness is a delicate one, and as these platforms evolve, one can only hope that they find better ways to distinguish the good guys from the bad.

To all my fellow creators feeling the pinch of lost followers, I feel you.

It’s a frustrating ordeal, but it’s also a reminder of the resilience needed in the digital age.

We adapt, we reach out, we diversify, and above all, we keep creating, no matter what the follower count says.