Ask HN: Why did medium.com "fail"?

Article summary

The article discusses the perceived decline of Medium.com as a blogging platform, citing a decrease in post quality and the introduction of a paywall. The author suggests that Substack has done a better job of competing in the blogging market, but notes that it is a different type of platform. The article questions whether it is possible for a platform like Medium to maintain high-quality posts while also paying writers well. The author expresses a desire for a new social blogging platform that can balance these goals.

Main themes

• Medium's decline
• long-form content
• short-form content
• censorship
• monetization
• alternative platforms
• quality content
• reader revenue
• writer revenue
• free speech

What commenters say

• Medium's decline is due to its inability to add value to blog posts and its network, leading to a decrease in quality content.
• The rise of short-form content has contributed to the decline of long-form content platforms like Medium.
• Censorship is a major issue on Medium, with some arguing that it stifles free speech and others believing it is necessary to maintain quality.
• The current economics of online advertising make it difficult for platforms like Medium to generate revenue solely through ads.
• Some believe that a new platform could succeed by offering a better balance between quality content and monetization, while others argue that this is impossible.
• The shift towards short-form content is a result of changing user preferences, with younger generations preferring bite-sized content.
• Monetization models that prioritize reader revenue over writer revenue may be more effective for long-form content platforms.
• Alternative platforms like GitHub Pages or self-hosting may offer better options for writers who value simplicity and control over their content.
• The desire for a platform that can balance quality content, monetization, and free speech is a common theme among commenters.