Congratulations! What a time to be alive in the Medium-sphere. I look forward to seeing whatever changes you've got planned.

I've been writing on this platform since 2018 and I've seen plenty of changes over that time. Some good, some bad. It seems every set of changes that happen set off a lot of unintended consequences and this can create and distort the platform in different directions.

I think by far the biggest problem the platform has at the moment is the curation of echo chambers. There was a while when Medium had publications that the place became a little bit of a lefty-love fest, politically and socially. It became homogenous and stifling. Free discussion and the exchange of ideas is central to what I think Medium is for.

That's why I've been distressed more recently that everyone seems to be operating in bubbles. Authors who are capable of writing in a popular bubble-niche generate huge followings and create and sustain a disproportionate amount of readership time. As Zulie has correctly outlined, this leads to 'I've been writing on Medium for X months' style writing... but that is because much of the oxygen in each subject niche is being eaten up by one or two big names - many of whom regurgitate things they've always written again and again for escalating rewards and obedient echo-chamber readerships.

I'd like to see more debate and the ability to co-write pieces on here. There are a number of writers who I disagree with on a fundamental political or social issue, but who I admire greatly. I'd love to be able to co-write with them - such a system would create and fuel debate, but it would allow bigger writers to showcase and co-write with smaller writers needing to find their niche and their audience. A society of writers must have a way to interact and to offer each other a helping hand if needs be. There is too much focus on how to make money and not enough on how to build a community.

If you come to London on your travels then I'd love to grab coffee and talk more about that. You'll be able to spot me - I'm the only resident Penguin on Medium. Take care and congrats again. :o)