X is testing a new bonus program that will pay selected creators $3,000 for publishing original video content on the platform, as the company looks to strengthen its position in the online video market.
The program, called Video Kickstart Bonus, will initially be offered to a limited group of invited creators. Allegra Jacchia, Creator Product Lead at SpaceXAI, announced the pilot in a post on X, saying the platform was “doubling down on video.”
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Under the program, participants must publish at least 15 videos over 15 different days within a 30-day campaign period. Each video must be in vertical format, run for less than three minutes and be created by the person posting it.
An image of X’s Creator Studio shared by Jacchia shows that creators who complete the requirements will receive a guaranteed $3,000 bonus. The pilot does not set any performance targets, meaning creators do not need to reach a specific number of views or engagements to qualify.
Creators can also submit videos they have previously posted on other platforms, provided the content is their own and does not contain watermarks. According to Jacchia, invitations will be sent out over the next few days, with enrolment for the pilot closing on Oct. 30.
The move comes as X reshapes its creator payment system to place greater emphasis on original work rather than content that attracts large numbers of impressions.
On Sept. 1, 2026, the platform moved away from its Ads Revenue Sharing programme and introduced a new approach called Original Content Rewards. The earlier system, launched in 2023, allowed eligible creators to earn a share of advertising revenue generated by ads displayed in replies to their posts.
However, the model drew criticism for encouraging sensational content designed to generate engagement and increase impressions. The revised approach aims to give greater weight to engagement from X Premium subscribers while rewarding creators who produce original reporting, commentary and other creative material.
To qualify for Original Content Rewards, creators must subscribe to an eligible X Premium tier, have at least 500 verified followers and generate 500,000 impressions on the Home Timeline from verified users within a 90-day period.
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Eligible material includes original reporting, analysis, photographs, videos, memes and graphics created by the user. Commentary that incorporates other people’s work can also qualify, provided creators add meaningful original contributions rather than simply reposting existing material.
The Video Kickstart Bonus adds another incentive for creators to produce videos specifically for X. By offering a fixed payment without viewership targets, the pilot could help the platform attract more original video content while giving creators a financial reason to build their presence on the service.