Navigating the Frustrations of the Medium App Experience
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Chapter 1: My Struggles with the Medium Application
Have you experienced similar challenges? I’d love to hear that I’m not alone in this.
Photo by abillion on Unsplash
When I began my journey on Medium a few months ago, I was thrilled by the ability to read and interact with articles through the app, regardless of my location. As both a writer and an enthusiastic reader, this platform's interactive nature was a significant draw for me.
Sadly, I’ve come to realize that the Medium app has some frustrating shortcomings. While I primarily write and read using my computer, the app's deficiencies have still left me feeling irritated. I keep hoping for a notification that reassures me, "It’s not your fault," but so far, it’s been nothing but silence.
Here are some of the challenges I’m encountering with the app:
Section 1.1: Inability to Respond to Comments on My Posts
This is incredibly frustrating. There’s nothing worse than spotting a cheeky comment from a reader while at work, only to find out that I can’t respond until I get home five hours later. By that time, my irritation has faded into mere boredom.
What consistently greets me at the top of my screen is the message, “The author has closed discussion for this story.” Excuse me, but I certainly did not do that.
Sometimes, I even attempt to type a response, only for the submit button to vanish. What gives?
Subsection 1.1.1: Confusion Over Friend Links
When I try to share the link to my article via the app, I’m left guessing whether this is the “Friend Link” or just a standard link. There’s no clear labeling, making it nearly impossible to know. This is particularly annoying because I could effectively promote my work during downtime, but without the right link, not everyone can access it.
Section 1.2: Missing Notifications on My Home Page
It took me a while to figure this out, but the app fails to show any new notifications on its own. I need to click the bell icon to reveal them. Initially, I assumed there were none.
Additionally, I only receive push notifications after I’ve opened the app, which defeats their purpose.
Chapter 2: Limited Insights into My Earnings
In the app, I can check “Your stats,” but I’m unable to view “Audience stats” or any earnings from partnerships. When I attempt to access “Audience stats,” I’m met with a message saying, “Unable to load this post.”
However, I can pin a “story” to my profile or undo claps I never gave. What’s going on?
Section 2.1: The Struggle with External Links
To be honest, whenever someone includes an external link in their article, I have no idea where it will take me. Even links to Tweets often redirect me to non-existent pages.
First of all, why don't these links send me directly to the Twitter app? Is there a setting on my phone that I need to adjust?
If you’re facing any of these issues or have solutions to share, please leave a comment. This is genuinely frustrating.
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Chapter 3: Addressing Common Medium App Issues
The second video discusses the prevalent issues with Medium's new Partner Program, providing insights into what users are finding problematic. It’s essential to stay informed about these changes as they may affect your experience on the platform.