X Implements Major Payment Cuts for Aggregators, Prioritizing Original Creators
Elon Musk's social media platform X has dramatically reduced payouts to users who engage in clickbait practices and repost news stories without adding value, as part of a crackdown on low-quality content flooding timelines. The platform's head of product, Nikita Bier, announced that all aggregators—accounts that quickly repackage and share content from other sources—have seen their payments from the creator revenue sharing program slashed by 60%, with an additional 20% reduction planned.
Revenue Sharing Program Adjustments to Combat Content Manipulation
Under X's revenue sharing scheme, creators must have at least 500 verified followers and generate a minimum of 5 million views over three months to qualify for advertising revenue shares. Bier emphasized that the move targets users who "flood the timeline with 100 stolen reposts and clickbait everyday," which he argued crowds out genuine creators and hampers new author growth. In a firm stance, he stated that X will not compensate for manipulation of the program or its users, though it remains committed to free speech.
Specific Penalties and Broader Policy Changes
The platform has imposed a permanent payment deduction for individuals who overuse "?BREAKING" in every post, a tactic often associated with sensationalism. This announcement followed reports from several right-wing influencers, such as Dominick McGee (known as Dom Lucre), who claimed their payments were halted without explanation, allegedly due to violations of monetization standards. McGee, who previously earned around $55,000 annually from X, highlighted the financial impact of these changes.
Other accounts, including Ethan Levins and PoliMath, expressed concerns about being unfairly categorized as aggregators, with PoliMath noting a significant drop in payouts despite denying such practices. In contrast, commentator Candace Owens supported the policy, calling it a good step forward.
Future Initiatives to Support Original Content
Bier revealed that X is testing new tools to identify original authors and allocate a portion of revenue directly to them, aiming to incentivize high-quality, unique material. While reposts will remain a core feature of the platform, the revenue sharing program is being reshaped to reward creativity over aggregation. In interactions with accounts like Daily Loud, Bier criticized copy-paste behavior that lacks unique commentary, asserting it adds no business value or enrichment to X's ecosystem.
This policy shift comes as X prepares for a potential market floatation under Musk's SpaceX empire. Bier has previously addressed issues like unlabeled AI-generated war videos, pledging an "iron slopdome" to tackle AI-generated low-quality content, underscoring a broader effort to maintain platform integrity and user trust.
