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aria-hidden="false"><button aria-label="Listen" data-testid="audioPlayButton" class="af fk ah ai aj ak al ms an ao ap ex mt mu mi mv mw mx my mz s na nb nc nd ne nf ng u nh ni nj"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="24" height="24" fill="none" viewBox="0 0 24 24"><path fill="currentColor" fill-rule="evenodd" d="M3 12a9 9 0 1 1 18 0 9 9 0 0 1-18 0m9-10C6.477 2 2 6.477 2 12s4.477 10 10 10 10-4.477 10-10S17.523 2 12 2m3.376 10.416-4.599 3.066a.5.5 0 0 1-.777-.416V8.934a.5.5 0 0 1 .777-.416l4.599 3.066a.5.5 0 0 1 0 .832" clip-rule="evenodd"></path></svg><div class="j i d"><p class="bf b bg z du">Listen</p></div></button></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="bm" aria-hidden="false" aria-describedby="postFooterSocialMenu" aria-labelledby="postFooterSocialMenu"><div><div class="bm" aria-hidden="false"><button aria-controls="postFooterSocialMenu" aria-expanded="false" aria-label="Share Post" data-testid="headerSocialShareButton" class="af fk ah ai aj ak al ms 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ny nz oa ob oc od oe of go bk">Since 2018, Medium writers in the Medium Partner Program have had the option to set their stories as “metered” to earn money.<em class="og"> </em>The word meter is an industry term for a complicated form of paywall where readers were allowed a few free views before being asked to pay. When Medium members read a metered story, the writer of that story earned a share of that member’s subscription revenue.</p><p id="e533" class="pw-post-body-paragraph nk nl gv nm b ht nn no np hw nq nr ns nt nu nv nw nx ny nz oa ob oc od oe of go bk">We’re proud of creating a subscription model that rewards high-quality stories without resorting to ads for revenue. But our meter system has always felt a little too complex for writers and readers, and we knew we could do better. So we’ve recently changed to a simpler system that gives writers more control over their stories on Medium. It’s simpler because, as a writer, you don’t have to guess about whether your reader will see a paywall or not.</p><h1 id="9c48" class="oh oi gv bf oj ok ol hv om on oo hy op oq or os ot ou ov ow ox oy oz pa pb pc bk"><strong class="al">How the simpler paywall lets writers decide</strong></h1><p id="6853" class="pw-post-body-paragraph nk nl gv nm b ht pd no np hw pe nr ns nt pf nv nw nx pg nz oa ob ph od oe of go bk">All writers in the Partner Program can now mark their stories as “paywalled.” This makes the story accessible to members only and indicates that the writer wants to earn a revenue share for their writing.</p><p id="0bb7" class="pw-post-body-paragraph nk nl gv nm b ht nn no np hw nq nr ns nt nu nv nw nx ny nz oa ob oc od oe of go bk">If you’re a writer in the Partner Program, here’s how you can paywall your story:</p><figure class="pl pm pn po pp pq pi pj paragraph-image"><div class="pi pj pk"><picture><source srcSet="https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:640/format:webp/1*uFetXUSeBAfbhg9DK1fDzQ.gif 640w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:720/format:webp/1*uFetXUSeBAfbhg9DK1fDzQ.gif 720w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:750/format:webp/1*uFetXUSeBAfbhg9DK1fDzQ.gif 750w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:786/format:webp/1*uFetXUSeBAfbhg9DK1fDzQ.gif 786w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:828/format:webp/1*uFetXUSeBAfbhg9DK1fDzQ.gif 828w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:1100/format:webp/1*uFetXUSeBAfbhg9DK1fDzQ.gif 1100w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:1400/format:webp/1*uFetXUSeBAfbhg9DK1fDzQ.gif 1400w" sizes="(min-resolution: 4dppx) and (max-width: 700px) 50vw, (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 4) and (max-width: 700px) 50vw, (min-resolution: 3dppx) and (max-width: 700px) 67vw, (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 3) and (max-width: 700px) 65vw, (min-resolution: 2.5dppx) and (max-width: 700px) 80vw, (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 2.5) and (max-width: 700px) 80vw, (min-resolution: 2dppx) and (max-width: 700px) 100vw, (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 2) and (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" type="image/webp"/><source data-testid="og" srcSet="https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:640/1*uFetXUSeBAfbhg9DK1fDzQ.gif 640w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:720/1*uFetXUSeBAfbhg9DK1fDzQ.gif 720w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:750/1*uFetXUSeBAfbhg9DK1fDzQ.gif 750w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:786/1*uFetXUSeBAfbhg9DK1fDzQ.gif 786w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:828/1*uFetXUSeBAfbhg9DK1fDzQ.gif 828w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:1100/1*uFetXUSeBAfbhg9DK1fDzQ.gif 1100w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:1400/1*uFetXUSeBAfbhg9DK1fDzQ.gif 1400w" sizes="(min-resolution: 4dppx) and (max-width: 700px) 50vw, (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 4) and (max-width: 700px) 50vw, (min-resolution: 3dppx) and (max-width: 700px) 67vw, (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 3) and (max-width: 700px) 65vw, (min-resolution: 2.5dppx) and (max-width: 700px) 80vw, (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 2.5) and (max-width: 700px) 80vw, (min-resolution: 2dppx) and (max-width: 700px) 100vw, (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 2) and (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px"/><img alt="" class="bh mr pr c" width="700" height="433" loading="lazy" role="presentation"/></picture></div><figcaption class="ps ff pt pi pj pu pv bf b bg z du">Partner Program writers can check this box to paywall their stories.</figcaption></figure><p id="f021" class="pw-post-body-paragraph nk nl gv nm b ht nn no np hw nq nr ns nt nu nv nw nx ny nz oa ob oc od oe of go bk">As a writer, you can always share a link that bypasses the paywall by using your story’s <a class="af pw" href="https://help.medium.com/hc/en-us/articles/360006543813-About-Friend-Links" rel="noopener">Friend Link</a>. This makes it easy for you to decide exactly who should be able to read the story for free. There are no limits to how you share your friend link.<em class="og"> </em>You can share it with one person or you could share it on Reddit and have thousands of people use it. You are in control.</p><p id="3c20" class="pw-post-body-paragraph nk nl gv nm b ht nn no np hw nq nr ns nt nu nv nw nx ny nz oa ob oc od oe of go bk">Here’s how to get a Friend Link: On the story page, click the three-dot menu and click on <em class="og">Copy Friend Link.</em></p><figure class="pl pm pn po pp pq pi pj paragraph-image"><div class="pi pj pk"><picture><source srcSet="https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:640/format:webp/1*lyM1Jakeormo7zBBhOGe6w.gif 640w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:720/format:webp/1*lyM1Jakeormo7zBBhOGe6w.gif 720w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:750/format:webp/1*lyM1Jakeormo7zBBhOGe6w.gif 750w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:786/format:webp/1*lyM1Jakeormo7zBBhOGe6w.gif 786w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:828/format:webp/1*lyM1Jakeormo7zBBhOGe6w.gif 828w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:1100/format:webp/1*lyM1Jakeormo7zBBhOGe6w.gif 1100w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:1400/format:webp/1*lyM1Jakeormo7zBBhOGe6w.gif 1400w" sizes="(min-resolution: 4dppx) and (max-width: 700px) 50vw, (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 4) and (max-width: 700px) 50vw, (min-resolution: 3dppx) and (max-width: 700px) 67vw, (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 3) and (max-width: 700px) 65vw, (min-resolution: 2.5dppx) and (max-width: 700px) 80vw, (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 2.5) and (max-width: 700px) 80vw, (min-resolution: 2dppx) and (max-width: 700px) 100vw, (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 2) and (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" type="image/webp"/><source data-testid="og" srcSet="https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:640/1*lyM1Jakeormo7zBBhOGe6w.gif 640w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:720/1*lyM1Jakeormo7zBBhOGe6w.gif 720w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:750/1*lyM1Jakeormo7zBBhOGe6w.gif 750w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:786/1*lyM1Jakeormo7zBBhOGe6w.gif 786w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:828/1*lyM1Jakeormo7zBBhOGe6w.gif 828w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:1100/1*lyM1Jakeormo7zBBhOGe6w.gif 1100w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:1400/1*lyM1Jakeormo7zBBhOGe6w.gif 1400w" sizes="(min-resolution: 4dppx) and (max-width: 700px) 50vw, (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 4) and (max-width: 700px) 50vw, (min-resolution: 3dppx) and (max-width: 700px) 67vw, (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 3) and (max-width: 700px) 65vw, (min-resolution: 2.5dppx) and (max-width: 700px) 80vw, (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 2.5) and (max-width: 700px) 80vw, (min-resolution: 2dppx) and (max-width: 700px) 100vw, (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 2) and (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px"/><img alt="" class="bh mr pr c" width="700" height="434" loading="lazy" role="presentation"/></picture></div></figure><p id="d5f7" class="pw-post-body-paragraph nk nl gv nm b ht nn no np hw nq nr ns nt nu nv nw nx ny nz oa ob oc od oe of go bk">We’ve paired this with another change: A longer preview of your paywalled story is now visible above the paywall. This gives your readers a chance to get deeper into the first part of your story before becoming a member to unlock the rest.</p><figure class="pl pm pn po pp pq pi pj paragraph-image"><div class="pi pj pk"><picture><source srcSet="https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:640/format:webp/1*I6FLTn0MG8Qek899JXVTLQ.gif 640w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:720/format:webp/1*I6FLTn0MG8Qek899JXVTLQ.gif 720w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:750/format:webp/1*I6FLTn0MG8Qek899JXVTLQ.gif 750w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:786/format:webp/1*I6FLTn0MG8Qek899JXVTLQ.gif 786w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:828/format:webp/1*I6FLTn0MG8Qek899JXVTLQ.gif 828w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:1100/format:webp/1*I6FLTn0MG8Qek899JXVTLQ.gif 1100w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:1400/format:webp/1*I6FLTn0MG8Qek899JXVTLQ.gif 1400w" sizes="(min-resolution: 4dppx) and (max-width: 700px) 50vw, (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 4) and (max-width: 700px) 50vw, (min-resolution: 3dppx) and (max-width: 700px) 67vw, (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 3) and (max-width: 700px) 65vw, (min-resolution: 2.5dppx) and (max-width: 700px) 80vw, (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 2.5) and (max-width: 700px) 80vw, (min-resolution: 2dppx) and (max-width: 700px) 100vw, (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 2) and (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" type="image/webp"/><source data-testid="og" srcSet="https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:640/1*I6FLTn0MG8Qek899JXVTLQ.gif 640w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:720/1*I6FLTn0MG8Qek899JXVTLQ.gif 720w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:750/1*I6FLTn0MG8Qek899JXVTLQ.gif 750w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:786/1*I6FLTn0MG8Qek899JXVTLQ.gif 786w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:828/1*I6FLTn0MG8Qek899JXVTLQ.gif 828w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:1100/1*I6FLTn0MG8Qek899JXVTLQ.gif 1100w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:1400/1*I6FLTn0MG8Qek899JXVTLQ.gif 1400w" sizes="(min-resolution: 4dppx) and (max-width: 700px) 50vw, (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 4) and (max-width: 700px) 50vw, (min-resolution: 3dppx) and (max-width: 700px) 67vw, (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 3) and (max-width: 700px) 65vw, (min-resolution: 2.5dppx) and (max-width: 700px) 80vw, (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 2.5) and (max-width: 700px) 80vw, (min-resolution: 2dppx) and (max-width: 700px) 100vw, (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 2) and (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px"/><img alt="" class="bh mr pr c" width="700" height="434" loading="lazy" role="presentation"/></picture></div></figure><p id="d992" class="pw-post-body-paragraph nk nl gv nm b ht nn no np hw nq nr ns nt nu nv nw nx ny nz oa ob oc od oe of go bk">Importantly, this change only affects paywalled stories. Nothing has changed for free stories: they are still accessible to everyone, including readers who don’t have a Medium account. Medium writers will always have the choice to keep their stories free or put them behind the paywall.</p><h1 id="b83a" class="oh oi gv bf oj ok ol hv om on oo hy op oq or os ot ou ov ow ox oy oz pa pb pc bk"><strong class="al">The impact: A clearer, better experience for readers and writers</strong></h1><p id="1f8a" class="pw-post-body-paragraph nk nl gv nm b ht pd no np hw pe nr ns nt pf nv nw nx pg nz oa ob ph od oe of go bk">With the previous meter system, non-members could read three metered stories each month. You may be familiar with this if you’ve seen a message like “You have two free reads left” above stories on Medium. But this led to confusion for writers on how reads and engagement lead to earnings, and this change will make writer stats easier to understand.</p><p id="2978" class="pw-post-body-paragraph nk nl gv nm b ht nn no np hw nq nr ns nt nu nv nw nx ny nz oa ob oc od oe of go bk">The previous system also left a door open to bots, scrapers, and browser extensions, making it easier for people to bypass the meter and read an unlimited number of metered stories for free. We believe in the value of writing on Medium, and our new paywall will help protect stories from scrapers and spam, helping them get to their intended audience: <em class="og">real human readers</em>. This should have a positive effect on earnings and make reading stats more reliable.</p><p id="df6b" class="pw-post-body-paragraph nk nl gv nm b ht nn no np hw nq nr ns nt nu nv nw nx ny nz oa ob oc od oe of go bk">Readers deserve a simple and straightforward way to see which stories are behind the Medium paywall. 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