Good Morning Carly and Scott. I enjoy reading all the good stuff above, but continue to be heartbroken, frustrated, confused, and my efforts to get answers from the Medium Help Center go unanswered.

Been with Medium since 2022 and switched to being a Friend of Medium like the day after it was offered, so my fellow writers benefit properly when I read, because I write way more than I read. Over 1100.

Now, halfway through Jan, which I believe is my BEST read, commented, highlighted, month ever, so far, and mine, like many other's payouts are around 1/20th or even less than than what it was before Jan. 1st.

Rumors out there: I've been flagged as a bot - Or, Medium is going under - Or, I'm marked as a scammer - Or, that's just the new payout rate - Or Or Or...

If it is a new bot that Medium added to track down bots on Medium doing AI writing, that bot is FAILING big time, and Hurting Many Real Writers.

Since there's no way the extra I'm paying to be a Friend of Medium is benefiting the Real Authors I read, I'm switching back to base subscription or whatever it's called. A bot would know. I don't, because I'm not a bot.

VERY sorry if I'm being snotty, but I'm sick to my stomach and have finally stopped crying, because I have no tears left after what was the Best Place for writers ever, has taken such a horrible turn.

I would have sent to the Help Center or to your tips@medium.com email, but am concerned my questions and concerns will continue being ignored.

Sorry so long, I'm a writer, and babble sometimes. Here's my Top Questions, or should I say, the Top Questions of thousands who are ready to leave Medium:

1. If we're being marked as AI bots by some bot who is making mistakes, How do we prove we are not bots?

2. Once, and if, we can prove we're not bots, because I'm sure some are bots, will our missing pay be fixed?

3. If this is the new pay structure / amounts, can Medium just state that, so we can accept it or leave, vs being left endlessly hanging?

4. Since payouts to the writers I've been reading has essentially dropped to 0, where is my extra $10 for being a Friend of Medium going to? Because it's not going to them.

Want to connect with me outside of comments, please email me at: ZatannaXtraDark@gmail.com

Z

PS - I only want to continue being creative, on what was the best place ever to write, while getting live feedback and without the fear of Clapping for another's story, or having someone Clap for mine.