In a major shift for social media monetization, X (formerly Twitter) has announced the termination of its current creator revenue-sharing program. The Elon Musk-owned platform is pivoting away from the system to crack down on plagiarized and recycled content, replacing it with a brand-new initiative dubbed the “Original Content Rewards” program.
Why X is Scrapping Its Current Creator Revenue Model
Since its inception, X’s ad revenue-sharing model has faced criticism for incentivizing engagement bait, copy-paste accounts, and the endless recycling of viral media. X’s head of creators, Allegra Jacchia, confirmed that this behavior drove the decision. The previous system inadvertently encouraged users to repurpose existing content rather than cultivate unique, high-quality posts.
To correct course, X closed applications for the legacy program on August 7. The final payment cycle under this old model will wrap up by covering eligible earnings through September 7.
Introducing the “Original Content Rewards” Program
The newly unveiled program aims to reward users who bring authentic value, creativity, and expertise to the platform. Under this model, eligible creators will earn payouts based on qualified impressions accumulated specifically by their original posts.
According to X, eligible original content spans a wide variety of formats, including:
- Insightful threads and deep-dive analysis
- Original videos, photographs, and custom graphics
- Memes, illustrations, and creative commentary
- Breaking news reporting and unique reactions
Crucially, the platform noted that curated or repurposed content may still qualify for monetization, but only if it “meaningfully transforms” the source material through original narration, humor, or creative editing.
Transition Timeline and Payout Dates
Currently, the transition to the Original Content Rewards program is exclusive. Only creators who were already enrolled in the legacy revenue-sharing program are eligible to participate in this new phase. X has outlined a clear timeline for the payout transition:
- August 28: The first wave of payouts under the new Original Content Rewards program will be distributed.
- September 7: The final earning period for the legacy revenue-sharing program closes.
- September 8: A new enrollment window opens for remaining eligible creators to join the rewards system.
- September 25: Creators who enroll during the September window will receive their first payouts under the new system.
By shifting its monetization focus to rewarding genuine creators, X is making a bold bid to clean up its feed and foster a healthier, more engaging information ecosystem.
