X is changing the way creators can earn money on its social media platform. The company is replacing its existing creator revenue-sharing program with a new system called Original Content Rewards, which is designed to give more value to people who publish their own work.
Under the change, X will stop accepting new applications for its current revenue-sharing program. The existing system is expected to end after September 7, 2026, as the platform moves creators toward the new rewards model.
The biggest difference is the stronger focus on original content. X wants to reward creators who produce their own reporting, written posts, videos, photographs, illustrations, memes, and other creative material.
The company is also placing more importance on meaningful commentary. This means users who add useful opinions, explanations, or insights to discussions may have a better chance of earning rewards than accounts that mainly repost content created by others.
The move could change how creators use X. Under previous social media reward systems, accounts could sometimes gain large amounts of engagement by repeatedly sharing viral posts or popular content from other users. The new approach appears designed to encourage creators to spend more time producing something unique.
For X, encouraging original content could also improve the quality of information available on the platform. More exclusive posts, videos, and discussions could give users additional reasons to remain active instead of finding the same material across several different social networks.
Creators, however, will likely pay close attention to how X decides which posts qualify for rewards. The success of the program may depend on whether its payment system is clear, consistent, and fair to creators of different sizes.
Smaller creators could potentially benefit if the system values originality instead of only rewarding accounts with extremely large audiences. Writers, independent journalists, artists, video creators, photographers, and commentators may also find new opportunities if their original work receives strong engagement.
At the same time, the change could reduce the earning potential of accounts that rely heavily on reposting viral material. X appears to be signaling that simply generating impressions may no longer be enough. The type and originality of the content could become increasingly important.
Creator payments have become an important part of competition between major social platforms. Companies are trying to attract people who can consistently produce engaging content because creators help keep users returning to their platforms.
X’s Original Content Rewards program represents another step in that competition. Instead of focusing mainly on how widely a post spreads, the company is putting more attention on who actually created the content and what value it adds.
More details about how payments will be calculated and how creators will qualify are expected to become important as the transition progresses. For creators already earning money through X, the coming weeks will be especially important as the platform moves away from its existing revenue-sharing system and toward its new original-content model.
