X is overhauling its creator monetization strategy, replacing the existing Revenue Sharing program with a new initiative called Original Content Rewards. The move, announced by the company, signals a deliberate pivot toward rewarding originality over aggregation, a shift that could redefine how influencers and creators earn on the platform. Main Developments The transition begins with a phased approach. New applicants to the current Revenue Sharing program are no longer being accepted, while existing participants can continue earning through September 7. Starting September 8, those creators can apply to the new Original Content Rewards program. Eligibility for the new program retains familiar requirements: a subscription to one of X's Premium tiers, a minimum of 500 verified followers, and at least 500,000 Home Timeline impressions from verified users within 90 days. However, the core change centers on what X deems "original" content. Read also: Inside Google's New Hacker Group Naming System: What It Means Original content, per X, includes original reporting and analysis, photos and videos created by the poster, and self-designed memes or graphics. Commentary is also eligible, but only if it adds "meaningful original value" when incorporating material created by others. Explicitly excluded are posts copied from another account, re-uploads, or reposts without "meaningful transformation." X's Allegra Jacchia explained the rationale in a post, stating the existing program "had reached a point where its incentives were misaligned." She added, "Creators should be focused on bringing net new content to the platform instead of maximizing payouts," and noted that starting fresh was preferable to adding more rules and exceptions. Background This is not X's first attempt to reform its creator payouts. In April, the company reduced payments to aggregators and "clickbait" accounts, a move that sparked backlash from popular creators who had profited under the old system. Musk himself reversed some changes, such as weighting a creator's local audience more heavily in payout calculations, following the outcry. The new program represents a more comprehensive reset. Rather than layering additional rules onto a flawed system, X is starting from scratch to align incentives with originality. The emphasis on "net new content" suggests a broader strategy to differentiate X from platforms that thrive on recycled material. Why It Matters For creators, the stakes are immediate and financial. Those who built followings by aggregating or reposting content may see their income dry up, while original content producers stand to gain. The shift also signals X's evolving identity under Musk's ownership, prioritizing platform-specific contributions over generic reposts. For the platform itself, this move could reshape the content ecosystem. By penalizing aggregation, X aims to foster a unique content library that cannot be easily replicated elsewhere, potentially boosting user engagement and advertiser appeal. However, the success hinges on how consistently X applies its originality guidelines and whether creators adapt. What's Next Existing Revenue Sharing participants have until September 7 to earn under the current terms. From September 8, they can apply to the new program. Jacchia indicated that X will "continue refining the program, improving our models, and raising the bar over time," suggesting that eligibility criteria and content standards may evolve. Open questions remain about how X will enforce the originality rules in practice, especially for borderline cases like transformative commentary. Creators will likely watch closely to see if the new program delivers on its promise of fairer payouts or merely shifts the goalposts.