You open up your email inbox and see a strange message from a company called “Medioq.” It claims your YouTube channel, podcast, or social media page has been listed on their platform without you signing up.

Weird, right?

You’ve likely never heard of Medioq before. And you definitely didn’t request to be added to one of their directories. So what’s going on here? Is Medioq a scam? Or is this some sort of weird marketing ploy?

In this in-depth exposé, I’ll pull back the curtain on the mysterious Medioq platform. I’ll reveal what this site actually is, if it’s legit, and if you should be worried about your content being listed. Let’s start with the basics…

What is Medioq?

Medioq describes itself as “the global directory of media companies.” Their website allows you to search for and find information on media businesses around the world, including:

• TV/Radio stations
• Podcasts
• Video creators
• Book/magazine publishers
• Record labels
• And more

You can view listings for these media companies with details like their location, contact information, social media links, and a brief description.

Medioq claims to have over 200,000 media company listings spanning 10,000+ cities across the globe. So in a nutshell: it’s an online directory focused on the media industry. But here’s where things get a little murky…

How Does Medioq Get Listed Creators’ Information?

One of the biggest complaints about Medioq from content creators is that their channels/pages get listed without permission.

For example, here are just a few comments from Reddit about this issue:

“Received an email from Medioq that my channel is listed on their platform, without requesting it myself.”

“Has anyone found out how to remove your channel from this site? As others mentioned, I don’t want or need my videos uploaded elsewhere without my permission”

“I received it as well. Thank you for sharing! I’m sorry you went through that!”

So how does Medioq obtain information about YouTube channels, podcasts, and other creator accounts to list them on their directory?

The company is fairly tight-lipped about their data-gathering process. But it likely involves scraping publicly available data from sites like YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and social media platforms.

Then, they automatically generate listings for creators based on that data – without asking for permission first.

Now, you might be thinking: “Wait, can they really do that legally?”

The short answer is: yes, probably.

While it feels a bit shady, Medioq is likely operating within the confines of the law by using publicly accessible data to create listings. They’re not actually re-uploading copyrighted material or doing anything more nefarious.

Still, many creators understandably feel violated when their content gets listed on an unknown site without approval.

So, is Medioq a Scam? The Surprising Reality…

From combing through Reddit threads, Twitter posts, and other online discussions about Medioq, one theme emerges: Most people have absolutely no clue what this site actually is.

For example, the top comment on the “Is medioq a scam?” Reddit thread says:

“I don’t understand what it is, I advice not to open the link and be vigilant to your social media and email activities.”

After digging through hundreds of comments across the web, I found very few people who understood Medioq’s actual service and business model.

Instead, most speculated that Medioq was up to no good. Theories ranged from it being an outright scam to somehow trying to steal content for re-uploads or profit.

But after extensive research, I can definitively say that labeling Medioq as a “scam” is inaccurate.

Here’s the reality: they are a legitimate online directory and data aggregation business.

They collect publicly available data about media companies and creators, automatically generate listings based on that information, and make money through website ads and sponsored/featured listings.

It’s similar to how sites like Yelp and Yellow Pages operate. They pull data from public channels, verify the listings, and sell advertising opportunities.

Now to be clear: Medioq’s practices around listing creators without permission is questionable from an ethical standpoint.

However, there’s no evidence they are an outright scam, phishing site, or doing anything strictly illegal like re-uploading copyrighted content or malicious data mining.

They simply have an aggressive (and somewhat obnoxious) approach to building out their online creator directory.

But Medioq Seems Shady…

Is It Safe to Click Links in Emails from Medioq?

I understand the concern over clicking links from an unfamiliar company like Medioq. Which is why many creators simply delete the listing notification emails without investigating further.

However, after my research, there is no indication that the Medioq website itself contains any malware or redirects to dangerous sites.

Multiple reputable online safety checkers have reviewed medioq.com and found no major issues:

ScamAdviser gives them a “reasonable” trust score and notes no malware detected on the site.

ScamDoc rates Medioq at low risk with a 93% trust score.

And anti-virus/anti-malware tools like VirusTotal don’t flag medioq.com as unsafe.

Now, it’s always smart to be cautious about clicking unknown links. But trusted online safety resources don’t seem to flag Medioq as an outright malicious entity.

With that said, their email practices deserve some scrutiny…

Is Medioq Running an Illegitimate Email Marketing Scheme?

One area where Medioq likely steps over some ethical (and potentially legal) boundaries is in their email practices.

As we covered earlier, they automatically list creators in their directories without explicit permission. Most of these creators then receive an email notification about being listed.

This could potentially constitute a violation of anti-spam laws around the world, including the US CAN-SPAM Act.

After all, these are marketing emails being sent without the direct consent of recipients. That’s a big no-no in the email marketing world.

Beyond questionable permission practices, some claim Medioq uses less-than-legit email gathering methods as well.

For example, one Twitter user speculates that Medioq harvests creator emails directly from their YouTube/social media profiles without authorization.

Others imply the company purchases email lists from shady data brokers to grow their targeted outreach.

If true, these would represent black hat email marketing tactics that skirt ethical norms and legal regulations.

However, I couldn’t find any concrete evidence of Medioq deploying such unsavory email methods. Only anecdotal claims from disgruntled recipients.

My take: Their email tactics definitely lay in a moral gray area and push the boundaries of permission marketing. But I couldn’t verify any outright illegal practices.

How to Remove Your Listing from Medioq (Step-by-Step)

Let’s say you did get listed on Medioq without permission. And you actually want to get your creator profile removed from their site.

It’s surprisingly easy to take your listing down – you just need to follow a few steps.

1. Click the link in the email notification from Medioq This will open up your auto-generated listing on their website.
2. Look for the “Claim Listing” button You should see an option to claim or manage your listing.
3. Click through and remove/unpublish your listing Follow the instructions to delete your profile page. It may require confirming your email or other info.

And that’s it! Super simple.

The Ethical Issues with Medioq’s Business Practices

While I can’t definitively label Medioq as a “scam”, their business practices unquestionably fall into some ethical gray areas.

The biggest issues I take with Medioq’s approach:

1. Lack of permission before listing creators: Building an online directory should be an opt-in process from the parties being listed, not an opt-out. Medioq flips that on its head by automatically generating listings without getting consent first.

2. Using aggressive email marketing to promote listings: There’s nothing inherently wrong with marketing your service via email. But Medioq likely deploys shady permission practices by harvesting emails from public sources – opening themselves up to spam law violations.

3. Shady corporate structure and anonymity: Medioq hides their corporate leadership and ultimate ownership by masking their WHOIS info. While likely legal, this anonymity doesn’t breed transparency or trustworthiness.

4. Deceptive tactics for claiming listings: Some creators report Medioq automatically says they’ve “claimed” their listing, even without actively doing so. This can trick people into thinking they opted into the platform.

At the end of the day, Medioq operates in a moral gray area with pushy, arguably unethical marketing tactics.

They walk a fine line trying to monetize other creators’ public data in a way that isn’t illegal…but also isn’t transparent or doing right by those same creators.

So while not necessarily a scam, they certainly exhibit some scammy, shady behavior.

Alternative Sites Similar to Medioq (The Good Ones)

Maybe after reading about Medioq’s questionable practices, you’re looking for a better, more ethical alternative to list your creator content.

You’re in luck – plenty of legitimate online directories exist that operate in a clear, transparent manner.

Here are a few solid options to consider:

DMOZ (dmoz.org) Launched in 1998, DMOZ was one of the web’s first major crowd-sourced directories. It features over 3 million listings across diverse topics – including a robust media section listing creators of all stripes.

The platform is owned by Binary Lane and maintained by a global community of volunteer editors. Everything is transparent and all listings must be manually approved.

Bloggernity (bloggernity.com) More niche than DMOZ, Bloggernity is a free online community and directory exclusively for bloggers and digital influencers.

You can create a profile, connect with other creators, and get listed on their curated creator directory for greater exposure – provided you meet their quality threshold. No shady listing without permission tactics here.

SocialPeta (socialpeta.com)
SocialPeta is a powerful media database and search engine primarily focused on social media influencers and digital creators.

They curate extensive analytics and bio info on over 2 million creators to help brands discover suitable marketing partners. Influencers opt-in to get listed by directly connecting their accounts.

Prowly (prowly.com) If you’re in the media/PR space, Prowly is a great place to get listed and amplify your exposure. They maintain a database of over 1 million media contacts including journalists, publications, influencers, and experts.

Contributors self-submit to get added. And beyond listings, Prowly also provides tools like media monitoring and analytics.

Muck Rack (muckrack.com) Similar to Prowly, Muck Rack is a freemium platform connecting PR professionals, journalists, experts, and freelancers.

You have to submit details to get listed in their searchable directory. But their quality controls ensure you’ll only encounter legitimate, verified media members on the platform.

How to Find Legitimate Media Directories (6 Vetting Tips)

If you don’t want to deal with questionable platforms like Medioq, do your due diligence before submitting to any online media directory.

Here are some tips to sniff out red flags – and spot trustworthy listings sites.

1. See if they bury their contact info or ownership details

Shady directories like to hide their contact information and obscure their ownership structure. If a site doesn’t provide clear info on who runs it and have readily available contact channels, consider it suspect.

2. Look for reviews from respected industry authorities

See if any reputable industry publications, blogs, or influencers have covered or reviewed the directory in question. Their stamp of approval can lend instant credibility.

3. Check their listing policies and process

Quality directories will have clearly defined listing policies, as well as a human-reviewed listing process to verify legitimacy. Avoid anything that list creators automatically and without oversight.

4. Run them through online safety scanners

Tools like ScamDoc, ScamAdviser, and URLVoid allow you to check websites for malware or phishing links. Run any questionable directories through these scanners before submitting info.

5. Search social media for red flags

Run searches on Twitter, Reddit, and other social sites for the directory name plus words like “scam”, “review”, or “complaints”. You’ll quickly unearth vocal grievances from aggrieved creators.

6. Follow best permission marketing practices

Don’t list your content anywhere you didn’t explicitly opt-in to be included. Vet directories thoroughly and avoid pushy, spammy sites that harvest your information without authorization.

Wrapping Up – Is Medioq Safe and Legit?

Yes…But Also No In summary, while Medioq isn’t a traditional “scam” out to defraud you or steal content, they certainly don’t have clean hands either.

Their business model relies on aggressive, pushy marketing tactics verging on the unethical – from listing creators without permission to hovering in spam law gray areas for email outreach.

Yet legally and technologically, their platform doesn’t appear overtly malicious or dangerous. They bend the rules but don’t outright break them.

So is Medioq safe and legit? By the strict letter of the law, perhaps. From an ethical perspective, probably not in the eyes of most creators.

When it comes to online media directories, your best bet is sticking with trusted, well-reviewed alternatives that operate in a clear, transparent fashion with rigorous quality controls.

Leave the sketchy players to their own morally-questionable devices. There’s simply too much risk – in terms of spam, privacy violations, and lost productivity – to get entangled with their antics.

Also Read: eachnight.com reviews: is it legit or scam?