“Ok, let's do it,” Musk posted in a reply to a tweet which said, “If I were at X or Elon, I’d crank creator payouts way way way way up. Maybe even more than YouTube (you can eat the cost to try to win agi). because the platforms that actually pay will be the only ones that will have any authoritative content left once the LLMs finish eating the rest of the internet’s homework (which they have already done so for the most part). Grok’s differentiator is this.”
Elon Musk puts condition for higher payouts on X
He tagged X’s head of product, Nikita Bier, putting forward a condition – “rigorously enforcing no gaming of the system”. To address Musk's concerns about system abuse, Bier confirmed that a solution is already in the works.
“On it,” Bier replied, saying that the team at X has developed a “new method that should wipe out 99% of fraud”, suggesting that the ‘new system’ is expected to ensure that only genuine, high-quality engagement is rewarded.
Musk has already said that X has been underpaying its creators. Commenting on a tweet by Bier in October this year, Musk had pointed out, saying, “No, the issue is that we are underpaying and not allocating payment accurately enough.”
The X chief also directly compared the social media platform's model with that of Google-owned YouTube, flatly saying, “YouTube does a much better job.”
Elon Musk has once again stirred the pot in the creator economy.
The Condition: "No Gaming of the System"
In response to a suggestion that X should outpay YouTube to ensure "authoritative content" remains on the platform (rather than being swallowed by AI models), Musk replied with a definitive:
"Ok, let’s do it, but rigorously enforcing no gaming of the system."
The "condition" is a direct response to a long-standing issue on X: engagement farming. Higher payouts naturally attract bots, "rage-bait" posts, and coordinated reply loops designed to inflate impressions and trick the revenue-share algorithm.
How X Plans to Enforce This:
A "New Method" for Fraud: X’s Head of Product, Nikita Bier, confirmed that the team has developed a new system designed to wipe out 99% of fraud.
6 Premium+ Eligibility: To ensure a "proof-of-human" barrier, the enhanced payouts will likely be tied to Premium+ subscriptions.
7 Audit-Based Payouts: Musk previously admitted that X was "underpaying and not allocating payment accurately enough."
8 The new system aims to reward high-quality, original content rather than just high-volume "slop."9
The Strategic Battle: X vs. YouTube
This move is part of a broader strategy to prevent X from becoming a graveyard of AI-generated content.
| Feature | YouTube (Current) | X (Proposed) |
| Revenue Source | Robust Ad Marketplace | Ad Revenue + Subscriptions |
| Stability | Highly Predictable | Currently Volatile |
| Payout Rate | Industry Gold Standard | Aiming to exceed YouTube |
| Barrier to Entry | Watch time / Subscribers | Premium+ Subscription |
Reality Check: Can X Actually Win?
While the promise of higher pay is enticing, industry veterans remain skeptical. MrBeast, the world's most-subscribed YouTuber, weighed in by noting that beating YouTube’s "monetization machine" would be a monumental task.
YouTube’s success isn’t just about the amount it pays; it’s about the brand safety it offers advertisers and the intent of its viewers (who go there specifically to watch video).
What this means for you:
If you are a content creator, X may soon become a more lucrative "second home" for your work.
Would you like me to look into the specific eligibility criteria for X's current creator program so you can see if you qualify?
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