X Announces, Then Retracts, Updated Revenue Share Incentives X, formerly known as Twitter, initially announced plans to update its creator monetization program, only to later retract the proposal. The change aimed to adjust revenue share incentives to prioritize engagement from users in their home regions, potentially discouraging foreign accounts from posting about U.S. or Japanese politics to generate more attention. The move was intended to reduce the influence of accounts that capitalize on political divisions and misinformation, while encouraging more localized content. Nikita Bier, X’s head of product, explained the rationale behind the update, stating that while the platform values diverse opinions, it sought to discourage accounts from gaming the system by focusing on U.S. or Japanese political topics. Bier emphasized that the goal was to foster a more balanced community by prioritizing regional engagement. He noted that some of the most followed accounts discussing U.S. politics are based abroad, and the update would incentivize creators to build audiences closer to their own locations. The proposal faced immediate backlash from users and creators who feared it would limit their reach and monetization potential. Several high-profile accounts expressed concerns on X, warning that they would need to significantly alter their content strategies to comply with the new rules. Elon Musk, who had previously expressed support for the idea, reportedly became aware of the growing dissent and reversed the decision, stating that X would “pause moving forward with this until further consideration.” The retraction raised questions about the internal decision-making process at X. Critics pointed out that such a major change, affecting thousands of users, should have undergone thorough testing and review before being announced.#japan #u_s #elon_musk #x #nikita_bier
Elon Musk Pauses Plan to Improve X Elon Musk has paused a proposed change to X's revenue-sharing system that was announced by Nikita Bier, the platform's head of product. Bier's plan aimed to discourage users from certain regions, such as India, Thailand, and Eastern Europe, from generating income through inflammatory posts about U.S. politics. The policy would have required users to post content that resonates with people in their own country, neighboring regions, and speakers of their language. Bier argued the change would reduce the incentive for users to target U.S. or Japanese audiences with divisive content, encouraging more diverse conversations instead. The plan was part of broader efforts to address the platform's reputation for hosting harmful or misleading content. Bier had previously introduced measures to disclose the geographic locations of users, revealing that many accounts engaged in discussions about U.S. politics were operated by people outside the country. While the new policy wouldn't prevent users from participating in political debates, it would have made it harder for them to profit from such activity. Musk, however, reversed the decision, stating that the plan would be paused "until further consideration." The move came hours after Bier announced the change, and Musk's intervention surprised some users who had supported the policy. Bier had defended the plan on the platform, assuring users they would benefit financially from the new system. Musk's leadership style has long been a point of contention. His tendency to abruptly change decisions, often without clear reasoning, has led to criticism from former executives and employees. Linda Yaccarino, X's former CEO, left after just two years, citing Musk's erratic management.#spacex #elon_musk #x #space_x #nikita_bier
