X (FKA Twitter) is making a major shift in how it pays creators by officially winding down its long-running Creator Revenue Sharing program. In its place, the social media platform is launching the Original Content Rewards Program, a new initiative designed to reward X users who post unique ideas, fresh reporting, original media, and meaningful commentary instead of recycled slop or engagement-farming reposts.
The platform stopped accepting new applications for the old revenue-sharing system immediately. It will shut it down completely after September 7, 2026. Current participants will receive three final payouts—scheduled for mid-August, late August, and around September 11—to cover earnings through the cutoff date. Starting September 8, 2026, existing members can apply for the updated rewards program if they meet the new criteria.
What counts as original content under the new rules
X is cracking down on low-effort content aggregators, bots and clickbait accounts. To qualify for payouts, posts must showcase primary work, such as original articles or reporting, self-shot photos and videos, custom illustrations, or genuine analytical commentary.
If creators use someone else’s work, they have to add real value, substantive analysis or creative editing. Simply copying posts, reuploading downloaded clips, adding watermarks, or placing basic text overlays that merely describe what is happening will no longer pass the bar. As Allegra Jacchia from X explained, the existing program reached a point where its incentives were misaligned. This makes a fresh start necessary to encourage creators to bring “net new content” to the platform rather than optimizing for ad payouts.
Strict eligibility criteria and verified impression rules
Earnings in the new system depend on “qualified impressions” received on original content rather than traditional ad-revenue splits. To earn money from a post, views must come from unique, paid Premium subscribers on their Home Timeline, with at least 50 percent of the post visible. Duplicate, fraudulent, paid, or promoted impressions will not count toward creator totals.
To be part of and stay in the Original Content Rewards Program, creators must continuously meet several ongoing requirements:
- Age and Account Standing: Be at least 18 years old and maintain a Personal or Business account in good standing in an eligible country.
- Paid Subscription: Hold an active Premium, Premium+, or Premium Business tier.
- Verified Audience: Maintain at least 500 verified followers.
- Recent Engagement: Accumulate at least 500,000 Home Timeline impressions from verified users over the prior 90 days, excluding replies.
Payouts will issue biweekly, with the first payout under the new program scheduled for August 28. Existing creators enrolled after September 8 can expect their first payouts on September 25, 2026.
X previously adjusted payouts in March to weight engagement toward a creator’s home region—aiming to deter foreign accounts from posting US political commentary. However, it remains unclear whether that regional weighting carries over to this new framework.
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