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Elon Musk openly acknowledged the possibility of higher creator payouts and the entire platform lit up almost instantly. Timelines filled with reposts and reactions, all asking the same question: is this finally happening, or is it still just talk?
How it started
It began with a viral post from a creator arguing that X should dramatically increase payouts - possibly even beyond YouTube levels.
The reasoning was simple but powerful:
in an internet increasingly flooded with automated, low-effort AI content, the platforms that survive will be the ones that pay humans who use tools - including AI - to create original, intentional work.
The idea?
If you want authoritative, interesting, human content, you have to reward it.
Grok AI will not just rank or analyze content better than other systems - it will change behavior by rewarding humans for creating meaningful, original content in the first place.
Elon’s response changed the tone
Elon replied with this:
“Ok, let’s do it, but rigorously enforcing no gaming of the system”
He also tagged Nikita Bier - X’s head of product - which tells you this wasn’t just a casual reply.
Translation:
Yes to higher payouts.
But an even bigger yes to cracking down on bots, fake engagement, click farms, and every shortcut that poisons creator ecosystems.
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… back to the article 👇
Why this matters right now
This conversation didn’t come out of nowhere.
Earlier this year, Elon openly acknowledged that X has been underpaying creators, especially compared to YouTube’s much more mature (and precise) monetization system.
MrBeast even jumped into the discussion, pointing out that YouTube’s dominance didn’t happen by accident - he’s generated nine figures in ad revenue on a single channel.
Surpassing YouTube’s monetization system would be a real challenge.
But competing seriously? That suddenly feels possible.
What higher payouts could actually change
Right now, most creator revenue on X comes from engagement generated by Premium users only.
If payouts increase meaningfully, it could mean:
More real money flowing to quality content - threads, videos, memes, long-form, whatever earns genuine engagement
Less incentive to farm interactions and more reason to build real audiences
X positioning itself as a serious home for human creativity in an AI-heavy internet
But the most important part of Elon’s message wasn’t the money.
It was the enforcement.
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… the article continues below 👇
Why “no gaming” is the real signal
We’ve all seen what happens when platforms raise payouts without guardrails.
Spam floods in.
Low-quality content explodes.
Good creators get buried.
This time, the message is different.
Expect:
Better detection of artificial amplification
Stricter rules around coordinated inauthentic behavior
Rewards tied more closely to real interaction, not inflated metrics
If they get this balance right, it protects the ecosystem instead of destroying it.
What creators should do now
Nothing drastic - but a few smart moves matter:
1. Double down on quality over volume
If shortcuts stop working, clarity and originality win.
2. Get Premium if you haven’t
Eligibility and payout quality still tie back to verified impressions.
3. Watch your analytics closely
If payout formulas change, early signals will matter.
4. Keep building off-platform
Higher payouts are exciting but your newsletter, community, or list is still your safety net.
Exciting times ahead…
This feels like a genuine pivot:
reward creators enough to keep them on X, while protecting the platform from the behavior that ruins it.
If X pulls this off, 2026 could be the year it seriously competes for creator attention and creator income.
Just so you know - moments like this don’t come often.
They’re worth paying attention to.
What do you think: real game-changer, or too good to be true?
Reply to this email to share your take - I read every message.
Wishing you a happy New Year’s Eve and a beautiful start to what comes next. Take what this year taught you, and step forward with confidence. 🥳
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See you on the next one
Karata♡