Chapter 1: Inspiration Strikes

Today, I felt a wave of creativity wash over me. I had the urge to express my thoughts urgently. Although I knew the article wouldn’t be finished immediately, I felt compelled to jot down my ideas right away.

I grabbed my phone, opened the Medium app, and…

I was met with a notification about updates. Great, but wait… the app no longer allows content creation? Medium has eliminated the option to write from mobile devices!?

This change means that if inspiration hits me, I can no longer quickly capture my ideas to start a blog post. Instead, I must rely on a third-party application or try to recall my thoughts later when I’m back at my computer.

Then it hit me just how significant this issue is…

During my previous job, we donated an app to a school in Africa, training students to use it and customize its features. The only way for them to access the app was through their mobile phones, as they didn’t have computers.

Mobile phones are the most widely used devices globally. By removing the ability to create content from the app, Medium has effectively silenced writers who rely on mobile devices for internet access. Anyone without a desktop computer now faces barriers to sharing their voice on Medium. This feels like a form of discrimination against those without desktop capabilities.

I don’t believe this was the intended outcome. I wouldn’t have even considered this perspective if it weren’t for my prior experience. It's easy to overlook the disparities in access when one is privileged.

However, this isn’t a critique of Medium. I’m not here to disparage the platform. I’m merely articulating my feelings and reactions to this change.

I primarily used my phone for writing. Most of my articles were composed on my mobile device. I enjoy relaxing lavender baths while writing. I only utilized my desktop for final edits, as certain features were only available there. This was always the most frustrating aspect of mobile content creation; I had to wait until I was back at my computer to finalize and publish my work.

I had to delay publication!

I hoped the app would evolve to include the features I lacked when using mobile. Instead, they have opted to scale back functionality, making it less effective for users.

Now, I can’t even begin working ahead. I’m left to grapple with the cumbersome new desktop interface that is anything but intuitive.

While there have been some promising updates recently, I can’t help but feel that Medium was more user-friendly a year ago. This is incredibly disheartening!

Chapter 2: Accessibility and Inclusivity

Section 1.1: Reflecting on Privilege

In our increasingly digital world, access to technology is not uniform. Many individuals rely solely on mobile devices for connectivity and content creation. It’s crucial to recognize the barriers faced by those who lack access to a computer.

Subsection 1.1.1: The Importance of a Mobile-Friendly Platform