Elon Musk Affirms X Has Been Underpaying Creators
In early October, a creator on X publicly compiled that although he has engagement, the X monetization payout is very low. He stated that he is receiving just $0.65 in monetization payout. Although the creators were suffering from the same frustration for a long time, that post sparked a new debate.
However, the direct response from the head of product at X, Nikita Bier, ignited criticism from the users. She stated, “At this point, I think creator payouts do more harm than good, and we need to off-ramp to a different system.” The user perceived her comment as dismissive, leading many to fear and assume that X was going to abandon the monetization.
What Musk Said, and Why It Matters
In response to the whole scenario, Musk responded to the controversy. His direct post, contradicting the Nikita Bier, stated that “No, the issue is that we are underpaying and not allocating revenue properly.” he further added that “YouTube does it better,”. His post signals that X will soon adopt the YouTube payout model or a similar structure.
In addition to earnings being far below expectations, current X payments are being delayed, and the user argues that the metrics are unclear. Also, not all users are receiving the same payout for the same engagement. Many users shared screenshots of payout disparities, arguing that it’s not what Musk launched to replace TikTok and YouTube.
Comparing Models: X vs. YouTube
| Feature | X (formerly Twitter) | YouTube |
| Revenue Source | Ads in replies to verified posts | Ads on videos, memberships, Super Chats |
| Eligibility | Verified account, engagement threshold | 500 subs + watch hours or Shorts views |
| Revenue Share | Undisclosed; Musk admits misallocation | 55% to creators, 45% to YouTube |
| Payment Consistency | Delays, low payouts, unclear metrics | Monthly via AdSense |
| Transparency | Limited dashboard, vague performance data | Detailed analytics and revenue breakdown |
| Public Sentiment | Mixed; trust issues among creators | Generally positive; reliable income source |
What’s Expected For X and Its Creators?
It’s not obvious, but Musk’s statement hints that there could be a complete overhaul in X monetization and payouts. They may implement a policy to eliminate financial disparity, enabling equal earnings for all users based on their level of account engagement. From now on, there could be a proper performance tracking implementation to boost fairness for users, regardless of their location. Users are also calling for a direct communication option with the X leadership. Whatever it is, it’s clear that there will be something bigger for users, making the platform more credible.
