X just tore up how it pays creators. The old program that rewarded engagement is gone, replaced by one built around original work. If you post on X, here is what actually changed and how to get in.
X has retired its creator ad Revenue Sharing program and rolled out a replacement called Original Content Rewards. The company’s framing is blunt: the old system’s incentives had become “misaligned,” rewarding reposts, engagement bait, and outrage over genuine creativity. The new program is meant to pay for original content instead. Whether you make videos, take photos, write threads, or draw, the switch changes what gets you paid and what you need to qualify.
In Brief
X’s old Revenue Sharing program, which paid creators based on ad engagement from verified users, has sunset. Its replacement, Original Content Rewards, pays on qualified impressions from Premium users on original posts shown in the Home Timeline. To apply, you need to be 18 or older, have an active X Premium subscription, at least 500 verified followers, and at least 500,000 verified impressions in the prior 90 days, among other requirements. Applications run through Creator Studio, and X does not publicly disclose the pay rate. Reposters and engagement-farm accounts are the clear losers; original creators are the intended winners.
What Changed, and Why
The old program paid a share of ad revenue based on engagement, mostly impressions and replies from verified users on your posts. According to TechCrunch’s report, X decided those incentives had gone sideways, pushing creators toward reposts and ragebait because that maximized payouts. The stated goal now is to reward people for “bringing net new content.”
| Revenue Sharing (old) | Original Content Rewards (new) | |
|---|---|---|
| Paid for | Ad engagement from verified users | Qualified impressions from Premium users on original posts |
| Tended to reward | Reposts and engagement farming | Original writing, photos, video, and art |
| Status | Sunset, final payout September 11 | Applications open, first payout September 25 |
What Original Content Rewards Pays For
Under the new program, earnings come from qualified impressions from Premium (verified) users, counted on posts shown in the Home Timeline where at least half the post is visible, and only on original content. The shift toward Premium-user impressions is part of why some creators say their measurable reach changed when the program flipped.
What Counts as “Original”
This is the part creators keep getting wrong, so it is worth being concrete. Original means work that is yours: your own writing and reporting, photos or videos you shot, memes or illustrations you made. You can still earn from someone else’s material only if you add real value, meaningful commentary, analysis, or creative editing, as Engadget’s breakdown explains. What does not count: content copied from another account, clips downloaded and re-uploaded, or reposting without meaningful transformation. Simply slapping a caption on someone else’s video does not make it yours. One easy-to-miss trap: content with strong profanity is generally ineligible for monetization under X’s rules.
Who Can Apply
You need to clear every one of these to be eligible:
- Be 18 or older.
- Hold an active, qualifying X Premium subscription.
- Have at least 500 verified followers.
- Have at least 500,000 verified impressions in the previous 90 days.
- Be based in an eligible country, a list X is gradually expanding.
- Keep your account in good standing, with no repeated policy violations.
The impressions bar is the one that stops most smaller accounts, so it is worth checking your analytics before you apply. The official X Help Center page lists the current requirements.
How and When to Apply
Applications run through Creator Studio, under Original Content Rewards. The rough timeline: X stopped new enrollments into Revenue Sharing on August 7, opened Original Content Rewards applications on September 8, disbursed the final Revenue Sharing payout on September 11, and set the first Original Content Rewards payout for September 25. X says applications are reviewed within about three business days. For more on the creator economy, browse Visboo’s Business section.
Who Wins and Who Loses
The winners are people who actually make things: writers, photographers, videographers, artists, and reporters, plus everyday users tired of a feed full of recycled slop. The losers are repost and aggregator accounts, engagement-farm and ragebait operations, creators who cannot clear the 500,000-impression bar, and anyone whose style leans on strong language. It is a deliberate reweighting of who gets paid, and X is not hiding that. For more on platforms and tools, see Visboo’s Technology section.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is X’s Original Content Rewards program?
It is X’s new creator payout program that replaced ad Revenue Sharing. It pays on qualified impressions from Premium users on original posts in the Home Timeline, aiming to reward original creation rather than reposts and engagement farming.
How do I apply for Original Content Rewards?
Apply through Creator Studio under Original Content Rewards. You must meet the eligibility requirements, including X Premium, 500 verified followers, and 500,000 verified impressions in the last 90 days. X reviews applications in about three business days.
What counts as original content?
Your own writing, photos, videos, memes, or art. You can earn from others’ content only if you add meaningful commentary, analysis, or creative editing. Copying, re-uploading, or reposting without real transformation does not qualify, and a bare caption on someone else’s video does not make it original.
How much does it pay?
X has not publicly disclosed the pay rate or funding pool for Original Content Rewards. Earnings are tied to qualified impressions from Premium users, but there is no announced per-impression figure, so treat any specific dollar claims with caution.
What happened to the old Revenue Sharing payments?
Revenue Sharing has sunset. New enrollments closed on August 7, accrual ended in early September, and the final payout went out on September 11. The first Original Content Rewards payout was scheduled for September 25 for approved former members.
What To Do Next
If you create original work on X, check whether you clear the eligibility bar, especially the 500,000-impression threshold, then apply through Creator Studio. If you have leaned on reposts or borrowed clips, the new rules are a signal to change what you make, because the program is now explicitly built to pay for the content that is genuinely yours.