Is wattpad dying....?
THIS IS A RANT POST!
Alright, I’ve held this in for long enough, but it’s time to let it out. Wattpad, what is HAPPENING?! This platform used to be a thriving hub of creativity, community, and passion, but lately, it feels like it’s slipping away. And I have a LOT to say about it. Buckle up.
Alright, I’ve held this in for long enough, but it’s time to let it out. Wattpad, what is HAPPENING?! This platform used to be a thriving hub of creativity, community, and passion, but lately, it feels like it’s slipping away. And I have a LOT to say about it. Buckle up.
1) The Paywall Problem
Look, I get it. Wattpad is a business. Writers being able to earn money from their work? That’s incredible, and it should be encouraged! But here’s the issue—free users are being bombarded with ads, and guess what? That revenue? It goes straight to Wattpad, NOT the authors. The only time writers actually earn is through paid stories—meaning, unless readers unlock chapters by watching more ads, the authors get nothing. So let me get this straight: you want readers to sit through an ad after every chapter, but they get nothing in return? And then you expect them to also watch extra ads to unlock paid stories? No wonder people are turned off by the system. It’s frustrating for both readers and writers!
2) THEY TOOK AWAY PRIVATE MESSAGING?!
Why? Just… why? I understand the increase in bots and creepy accounts, but removing private messaging altogether? That was a core way for writers and readers to connect on a personal level. So many readers are too shy to comment publicly, and PMs were a safe space for genuine interactions.
Now? Gone. Just like that. And for what? It’s another example of Wattpad taking something that worked perfectly fine and throwing it in the bin.
3) The Creator Program is a JOKE Now
Once upon a time, the Wattpad Creators Program was something to aspire to. It was prestigious. It was rewarding. Writers got goodie boxes, badges, banners, and actual meaningful perks. Now? The eligibility process is random at best (only if the algorithm decides you’re worthy), and the perks? Embarrassingly minimal.
No banners. No badges. No proper promotions. Just “educational tools” (which are basically just common-sense writing tips you could Google) and a vague priority consideration for Wattpad Originals—without any guarantee of real exposure. What happened to supporting the writers making this platform what it is?!
4) Notifications Are BROKEN
This is a recent one, and it’s absolutely killing engagement. Readers aren’t getting notifications when books update, meaning they have no clue when their favorite stories have new chapters. And let’s be real—not all readers follow an author’s account, so relying on that is useless. How are we supposed to keep our audience engaged when they don’t even know we’re updating?
5) Where is the Community?!
This one hurts the most. Wattpad was always about more than just reading and writing—it was about engagement, diversity, and representation. It was about building friendships, sharing ideas, and creating fandoms. But now? It’s ghost town levels of dead.
Announcements get ignored. Engagement is at an all-time low, even for massive authors. So many writers are only interested in “read-for-read” deals rather than forming genuine connections. Where are the excited readers, the fan theories, the passionate comments? Where are the fans? The community? The heart of Wattpad is missing, and it’s devastating.
I love this platform. I truly, deeply do. Wattpad shaped so much of my writing journey, and it pains me to see what it’s becoming. I don’t know if things will ever go back to the way they were, but if Wattpad wants to thrive, they NEED to listen to their users—the people who actually make this site what it is.