I read it somewhere - long forgotten - that the Internet creates democratization wherever it goes. Words to that effect. I've come to believe the opposite in many areas.

Have any of us ever looked behind a website to see how it works? Opened a "door" stuck our heads in and went - oh, so this is how they do it.

We assume that what they say is what they do. We assume (Medium) does what it says it does. That we see what we are interested in. That what we write needs to be well-written to be read. That every writer on Medium has an equal chance at success. I don't believe this. What I believe is that this process is managed. Certain writers and certain content get pushed to the top; get extra impressions, and get an assist wherever possible, because they are deemed to create the kind of readers that Medium wants and profits from.

Have you ever walked into a national supermarket and seen a WALL OF DORITOS in the front of the store? Do you think Frito-Lay did it on their own - just decided to do it and it happened? No. decisions were made, space was made, actions taken - voila, a wall o' chips.

Some writers don't get read because other content gets pushed in front of them - again and again.

What's the other saying - not everyone who thinks they are being followed is paranoid.

Appreciate the article.