It would be a shame if people wrongly assumed that becoming a Friend of Medium is merely about having a chance to observe a plethora of stories; it is also an opportunity to be a patron to the writers who make the platform colorful and distinctive. It enables us to continue providing writers with a source of income for the creations they publish and the daily audience will always get to read quality, uninterrupted content without interrupting the flow with ads. While I am sure many people use Medium only for reading and do not care about any of this “Friend of Medium” status, this change is a win-win for both sides if you truly enjoy reading on this platform.