**Elon Musk Hints at Increased Creator Payments on X to Compete with YouTube**
**Meta Description:** Elon Musk suggests X may boost creator payouts to rival YouTube, addressing concerns over underpayment and fraud.
**URL Slug:** elon-musk-x-creator-payments
**Headline:** Elon Musk Proposes Higher Payments for Creators on X to Compete with YouTube
In a recent development, Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, acknowledged that X (formerly Twitter) has been “underpaying” content creators and hinted at potential increases in payments to better compete with YouTube. This statement came in response to a tweet advocating for higher payouts for creators, where Musk tagged X’s head of product, Nikita Bier, and stated, “Ok, let’s do it, but rigorously enforcing no gaming of the system.” Bier quickly responded, confirming that the team was “On it” and mentioned a new method aimed at eliminating 99% of fraud.
The conversation gained traction when independent journalist Nick Shirley, known for exposing daycare fraud in Minnesota, expressed enthusiasm for the proposed changes. He noted that while X has struggled to compete with YouTube’s AdSense, it remains a more effective platform for sharing videos without censorship. Shirley remarked, “I’ve been telling my friends for months to be posting on X but they haven’t made the effort because their time is better used (monetarily) on other platforms.”
Many users joined the discussion, labeling the potential changes as a “real game changer.” They argued that platforms offering fair compensation to creators would ultimately dominate the landscape, especially as large language models (LLMs) increasingly consume online content.
Musk’s comments come at a critical time when digital platforms are vying to retain original, human-generated content amidst a surge of AI-generated material. Earlier this year, Musk had pointed out that X needed to enhance its creator payouts to remain competitive with platforms like YouTube. He previously corrected Bier’s assertion that current payouts were doing “more harm than good,” stating, “No, the issue is that we are underpaying and not allocating payment accurately enough.” He also directly compared X’s monetization model to YouTube’s, asserting that “YouTube does a much better job.”
The creator monetization program on X was launched following Musk’s $44 billion acquisition of the platform. Currently, it allows verified users to earn a share of ad revenue based on engagement metrics. However, despite the introduction of this payout system, many creators have criticized the platform for inconsistent earnings, delayed payments, and unclear monetization metrics.
As discussions continue, Musk’s latest remarks signal a potential shift in X’s approach to creator compensation, which could have significant implications for the platform’s future and its ability to attract and retain content creators.
**FAQ**
**Q: What changes is Elon Musk proposing for creator payments on X?**
A: Elon Musk has suggested increasing payments to creators on X to better compete with YouTube, while also implementing measures to prevent fraud in the monetization process.
