X is ending its Creator Revenue Sharing program and launching the Original Content Rewards program to pay creators for original material [1, 2].
This shift changes the financial incentive structure for millions of users. By moving away from a general revenue-sharing model, the company aims to discourage low-effort reposts and prioritize unique contributions that drive platform engagement.
The new system provides payouts for original posts, videos, photos, and what the company describes as meaningful commentary [1, 2, 3]. Under the previous model, creators earned a share of advertising revenue based on impressions, regardless of whether the content was original or curated from other sources.
X said the previous revenue-sharing model was misaligned with its goals [1, 3]. The company intends to reward high-quality content that adds value to the platform rather than content that simply aggregates existing information.
The transition introduces new eligibility rules and updated payout dates for creators [2, 3]. While the specific financial thresholds for eligibility were not detailed in the announcement, the platform emphasized that original content is now the primary currency for earning rewards [1, 2].
This move signals a broader strategy to pivot X toward a creator-centric ecosystem. By rewarding original media and commentary, the platform seeks to compete with other social media giants that prioritize short-form original video, and unique user-generated content [1].
“X is replacing its Creator Revenue Sharing program with an Original Content Rewards system.”
This policy shift represents a strategic attempt to reduce 'engagement farming'—the practice of posting repetitive or stolen content to trigger algorithm-driven payouts. By tying rewards specifically to originality and meaningful commentary, X is attempting to improve the quality of its feed and attract professional creators who produce proprietary media, potentially increasing the platform's value to advertisers.
