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I Don’t Believe in Affiliate Links - Medium

Medium ·Jul 20, 2026 12:30am

The Rise of a New Publishing Era: Medium's Shift Away from Affiliate Links

Medium has recently implemented a change in their content strategy, eliminating affiliate links from the platform. This decision reflects a larger shift in the way publishers approach affiliate marketing and how they interact with their audience.

In a recent article on Medium, a writer expressed their perspective on the matter, stating "I Don’t Believe in Affiliate Links." This sentiment reflects the growing concern that affiliate links can be seen as spammy or intrusive, potentially disrupting the reader's experience.

The elimination of affiliate links from Medium is likely a result of the platform's focus on quality content over monetization. By removing affiliate links, writers can create content that is more focused on storytelling and engagement rather than driving sales. This approach could potentially lead to a more authentic and immersive experience for readers.

This shift in publishing strategy has significant implications for marketers. With more platforms moving away from affiliate links, marketers may need to adapt their strategies and focus on more organic and authentic ways of promoting products. This could involve building relationships with influencers or creating high-quality content that doesn't contain affiliate links.

The rise of alternative monetization models, such as membership or subscription-based platforms, may also become more prevalent. These models allow publishers to generate revenue without relying on affiliate links or ads, providing a more stable and sustainable income stream.

- Removing affiliate links can help publishers create more authentic and immersive content for their audience.
- Marketers may need to adapt their strategies to focus on more organic and authentic ways of promoting products.
- Alternative monetization models, such as membership or subscription-based platforms, may become more prevalent in the publishing industry.

Based on public reporting from Medium. View the publisher’s original piece (opens in a new tab) — optional if you want the full primary source.