Months after Elon Musk announced that some Twitter users will be eligible to earn money via ads on the platform, popular creators are finally getting an update: the money is coming “within the next 72 hours.”
The revenue sharing program is only available to users who pay for a Twitter Blue subscription and is driven by ads placed in the replies to tweets. So far, payout amounts are ranging from a few thousand dollars to nearly $40,000 for accounts with a few million followers. In a thread, Twitter says it will expand eligibility to more creators later this month.
It’s not immediately clear how payouts are determined or how much revenue Twitter keeps itself, but accounts need to have at least 5 million impressions on tweets over the last three months. Conservative YouTuber Benny Johnson posted that he was eligible to make nearly $10,000; @Elon_alerts, an account that shares Musk’s activity on Twitter, said that its payout amounted to around $2,200. Musk said in a tweet that payouts are cumulative going back to February, when the program was first announced.
The revenue sharing payouts are coming at a time when Twitter’s dominance as the microblogging platform is being threatened. Meta’s copycat app, Threads, launched last week, and 100 million users signed up within days. A few days earlier, Musk announced he was limiting the number of tweets users could read “to address extreme levels of data scraping & system manipulation.” Interesting strategy for a company that depends on advertising to keep the lights on. And in the background of all of this, Cloudflare data shows that Twitter traffic has been tanking since January.
Twitter’s revenue sharing program, introduced by Elon Musk a few months ago, is finally rolling out to popular creators. These creators will be able to earn money through ads placed in the replies to their tweets. However, this program is only available to users who pay for a Twitter Blue subscription, restricting its accessibility. Twitter plans to expand eligibility to more creators in the coming weeks.
The payout amounts for eligible creators have varied, with some earning a few thousand dollars and others reaching nearly $40,000. These amounts are based on factors such as the number of followers and impressions. Accounts need to have at least 5 million impressions on tweets over the past three months to qualify for the program. While the exact calculation and Twitter’s revenue share remains unclear, creators have expressed excitement about the potential earnings.
Conservative YouTuber Benny Johnson shared that he was eligible for a payout of nearly $10,000, highlighting the financial opportunities this program brings. Similarly, the account @Elon_alerts, which tracks Musk’s Twitter activity, received a payout of approximately $2,200. Elon Musk himself confirmed that the payouts are cumulative since the program’s announcement in February.
Interestingly, the introduction of the revenue sharing program comes at a challenging time for Twitter. Meta, the parent company of Facebook, recently launched Threads, a similar microblogging platform, which quickly attracted 100 million users within days. Additionally, Musk made headlines by announcing limitations on the number of tweets users can read, citing concerns regarding data scraping and system manipulation. This strategy poses a potential risk for Twitter, as the platform heavily relies on advertising revenue.
Furthermore, Twitter has been facing a decline in traffic since January, according to data from Cloudflare. This downward trend raises concerns about the platform’s overall popularity and future growth. The revenue sharing program could be seen as Twitter’s attempt to regain momentum and attract more creators and users.
As the program expands its eligibility to include more creators, it is expected to draw increased attention and participation. The potential income from ad placements in replies to tweets incentivizes creators to continue producing engaging content and helps strengthen their connection with their audience.
However, several key aspects of the program remain unclear, such as the specific criteria for determining payouts and the portion of revenue retained by Twitter. Transparency in these matters would be beneficial for both creators and the platform’s users. Additionally, ensuring the stability and reliability of the program will be crucial to maintain creators’ trust and encourage their continued engagement.
In conclusion, Twitter’s revenue sharing program, introduced by Elon Musk, is finally arriving for popular creators. The program’s rollout comes at a critical time for Twitter as it faces competition from Meta’s Threads and experiences a decline in traffic. The potential earnings from the program offer a new financial avenue for creators, while also presenting an opportunity for Twitter to regain its momentum in the social media landscape. As the program expands, addressing any uncertainties and providing transparency will be key to its success.