Navigating Medium: How to Avoid Suspensions and Recover Your Account
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Chapter 1: Understanding Medium's Policies
Writing on Medium can be a rewarding experience, but it comes with its own set of challenges.
Many writers, including myself, have faced the distress of being banned from the platform. On May 29, 2024, I found myself in a similar situation, and the emotional toll was immense. The anguish of losing access to my hard work and reader engagement is something only those who have gone through it can truly appreciate.
In just nine months, I had published over 40 articles in May alone, accumulating more than 300 followers. The sudden drop in my account's performance left me feeling despondent, grappling with concerns about the future of my account and the earnings I had generated that month.
Medium has tightened its grip on content moderation, frequently suspending accounts due to its AI content policies. Adhering to "Medium Rules" is crucial, but sometimes even well-crafted, human-written articles can mistakenly trigger the platform's spam filters.
For instance, you might encounter messages such as:
"Your account is under investigation or was found in violation of Medium's Rules."
This can be disheartening, but there are steps you can take to resolve the situation.
Section 1.1: Steps to Regain Access
If you find yourself suspended, here are some actions to consider:
- Review Your Content: If you suspect that your articles contain AI-generated content, it’s important to edit each story to eliminate such material.
- Remove Paywall Stories: A highly effective method is to take down all your stories from behind the paywall and then submit an appeal. I advised a friend to follow this approach, and he successfully regained his account within a day.
- Appeal to Medium: If you believe you were mistakenly flagged, click on the "Medium Rules" link at the top of your dashboard, where you’ll find an appeal form. Fill this out and request a review from the Medium team.
The response I received from Medium was reassuring, and their quick reply gave me hope during a stressful time.
Section 1.2: Preventing Future Suspensions
To avoid getting banned again, it’s vital to adhere strictly to Medium's guidelines.
Additionally, I recommend using tools like the "Quiltbolt Free AI Detector" before publishing to ensure your content is free from AI-generated material.
I owe a debt of gratitude to my fellow writers, Asad, for their encouragement and support during my recovery process.
Be happy and keep writing!
Chapter 2: Resources and Insights
In the video titled "I Got Banned From Medium.com - YouTube," the creator shares personal experiences with account suspensions on Medium, detailing the emotional impact and the steps taken to resolve the issue.
The second video, "Facing Medium.com Account Suspensions: Understanding the Whys and How's - YouTube," offers a deeper understanding of the reasons behind account suspensions and practical advice on how to navigate these challenges.