X has stopped accepting new applications for its ad revenue-sharing program, and the platform will shut it down completely after September 7. In its place, X has introduced the Original Content Rewards Program, a new system designed to pay creators for original work rather than ad-based engagement.
According to X, the program will reward creators who bring original ideas, expertise, reporting, creativity, and commentary to the platform. Under this system, creators earn money based on the number of qualified impressions their original Social media content receives.
What counts as original content?
X defines original content as material users create themselves. This includes their own writing or reporting, photos or videos they capture, and memes or illustrations they design.
Creators can also earn from other users’ posts, but only under specific conditions. They must add meaningful commentary or analysis, or creatively edit existing videos or photos. Simply adding captions or text overlays that describe what is already happening will not qualify. In other words, if a contribution adds little or no value, X will not count it as original content under the Original Content Rewards Program.
Who is eligible for the Original Content Rewards Program?
To join, users must be at least 18 years old and reside in a country where the program is available, according to X’s help page. Additionally, creators need an active Premium, Premium+, or Premium Business subscription.
Eligibility also depends on audience size and reach. Specifically, users need:
- At least 500 verified followers
- At least 500,000 Home timeline views from verified users in the past 90 days
Because these views must come from verified users, unique impressions from Premium subscribers count toward the total. Furthermore, creators must continue meeting these requirements after joining to keep receiving payments.
When does the transition happen?
Creators currently enrolled in X’s revenue-sharing program will need to reapply once they become eligible for the new program on September 8. Meanwhile, anyone who was not part of the original program can apply for Original Social Media Content Rewards immediately.
This shift follows an earlier change X made in March, when the platform adjusted its revenue-sharing rules to place greater weight on engagement from users’ home regions. The update likely aimed to stop accounts from falsely posing as American users. It remains unclear whether the new Original Content Rewards Program will include a similar regional-engagement rule.
