Elon Musk schools X’s Product Head over Creator Payouts, says, “The issue is we are underpaying them. YouTube does a better job”

Elon Musk has sparked a new discussion about how X (formerly Twitter) pays its creators. 

In a public exchange on the platform, Musk disagreed with Nikita Bier, X’s Head of Product, over the company’s payout system. 

Musk admitted that X “underpays and does not allocate payment accurately enough,” while pointing out that YouTube “does a much better job.” 

His comments have brought attention to the frustration many creators feel about unclear or low payouts on the platform.

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Elon Musk Schools Nikita Bier Over Creator Payouts

The conversation started when Nikita Bier shared a post suggesting that the current payout system might be harming creators. He wrote:

“At this point, I think creator payouts do more harm than good — and we need to off-ramp to a different system.”

Musk responded quickly and directly:

“No, the issue is that we are underpaying and not allocating payment accurately enough. YouTube does a much better job.”

Many creators agreed with Musk, saying payments on X are inconsistent. Some with large followings say they earn very little despite meeting requirements, while others have faced delays or missing payments. 

Musk’s statement makes it clear that he recognizes these problems and may push for changes to make payouts fairer.

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Elon Musk Praises YouTube’s Model and Signals Possible Changes for X

Musk compared X’s system to YouTube’s, highlighting YouTube’s reliability. 

YouTube allows creators to earn through ads, memberships, and live streams, with clear and regular payments. This transparency has made it a preferred platform for many creators.

By mentioning YouTube, Musk hints that X might improve its payout system in the near future. Changes could include better payment calculations, clearer rules, and more reliable revenue sharing, giving creators a fairer chance to earn from their content.

Elon Musk’s public exchange with Nikita Bier shows that X knows its creator payout system needs work. 

By pointing out flaws and praising YouTube, Musk has raised expectations for improvement. Creators on X will now be watching to see if the platform fixes its payout system and delivers fairer, more consistent payments.

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