Chapter 1: My First Block on Medium

Today marked a significant moment for me. I finally mustered the courage to BLOCK a follower for the first time. Technically, it’s the second time—my initial attempt was an accident about three weeks ago, a mishap involving a new platform and my small iPhone screen. Spoiler alert: that follower got reinstated.

But this time, it was intentional! My heart raced just thinking about it. I caught a clap-and-run follower in the act, and I took action. It felt exhilarating—like a triumphant "GOTCHA!" moment. However, that feeling of victory soon gave way to guilt.

While I had every reason to believe this individual was a clap-and-runner—after all, they clapped for five of my articles within a single minute—it still left me questioning their intentions. Sure, some of my pieces are brief, but five claps in one minute? That's suspicious.

I was convinced I made the right choice, guided by the wisdom of seasoned Medium users who advise blocking clap-and-runners. But then I pondered the person behind the screen. What motivated their actions? Were they even aware of what they were doing?

Upon glancing at their profile, I noticed they had only a handful of followers and were following fewer than twenty accounts themselves. It struck me that they might be quite new to Medium—perhaps even brand new. While I’m not particularly social, I managed to gather over twenty followers in just a couple of days.

Should I have reached out to them first? Maybe I should have left a comment on one of their pieces, explaining that engaging in clap-and-run behavior might not be as innocent as it seems and that it doesn’t help build meaningful connections.

Would I have appreciated someone doing that for me if I were in their shoes? I believe I would have. So perhaps I should have taken that step.

What’s your take on this?

For more insights into my Medium journey:

In this video, titled "How to Remove Action Block - Fix Instagram Follow Block in 2019," you'll find strategies to handle unwanted interactions on social media platforms.

Chapter 2: Reflecting on Social Media Interactions

The second video, "How to Remove Followers on Twitter / X 2024," explores ways to manage your follower list effectively, ensuring a more positive online experience.