Medium.com Now Lets Users Login with their Burger King Accounts so Fans can Send Writers Whoppers
Medium.com, the online platform where anyone can write anything and get paid nothing, has announced a groundbreaking feature that will revolutionize the way readers interact with writers. Starting from Monday, users can login with their Burger King accounts and send whoppers to their favorite authors as a token of appreciation.
The feature, which was launched in collaboration with Burger King, the fast-food chain that has been serving the same burgers since 1954, is expected to boost the engagement and loyalty of Medium’s users, as well as to increase the revenue and obesity of its writers.
According to Medium’s CEO, Evan Williams, the feature is a result of months of research and testing, and is based on the insight that writers crave recognition and reward for their work, and that readers want to show their gratitude in a tangible and tasty way.
“We believe that writers deserve to be recognized and rewarded for their work, and we want to make it easy for readers to show their appreciation,” Williams said in a press release. “By partnering with Burger King, we are giving our users a fun and delicious way to support the writers they love.”
Users who login with their Burger King accounts can send whoppers to any writer on Medium by clicking on a burger-shaped button next to their articles. (🍔) The whoppers are delivered to the writers’ addresses within 30 minutes, along with a personalized note from the sender. The sender can also choose to add extra toppings, such as cheese, bacon, or onion rings, for an additional fee.
The feature has been met with mixed reactions from the Medium community. Some writers have expressed their gratitude for the gesture, while others have complained about the health and environmental impacts of eating fast food.
“I think it’s a nice idea, but I’m a vegan and I don’t eat whoppers,” said Sarah Jones, a writer who covers topics such as feminism, politics, and culture. “I wish they had an option to send something else, like a salad or a smoothie.”
Meanwhile, some readers have criticized the feature as a gimmick and a waste of money.
“I don’t see the point of sending whoppers to writers,” said John Smith, a reader who follows topics such as technology, business, and sports. “Why not just leave a comment or clap for their articles? That’s free and more meaningful.”
Burger King has defended the feature as a way to promote its brand and products, as well as to support the creative community.
“We are proud to partner with Medium and offer our customers a new way to enjoy our whoppers,” said Fernando Machado, Burger King’s global chief marketing officer. “We believe that whoppers are not only tasty, but also inspiring. They can spark new ideas, conversations, and connections.”
The feature is currently available only in the US, but Medium plans to expand it to other countries soon. Users who want to try it out can sign up for a free Burger King account on their website or app.
Medium.com is not the first online platform to experiment with food-based rewards for writers. In 2021, Substack.com introduced a feature that allowed users to send pizza slices to their favorite newsletter authors. However, the feature was discontinued after several incidents of food poisoning and allergic reactions were reported.
