SA Users React to Claims of R200 Payment for 5 Million Views on X
A South African influencer has sent shockwaves across social media with claims about meagre earnings from Elon Musk’s X (formerly Twitter). In a viral video shared by entertainment commentator Phil Mphela, the influencer, Sphephelo, alleged she was paid just R200 for generating 5 million views on the platform.
“I used to blog a lot on X, and they paid me R200 for 5 million views,” Sphephelo said in the video. She added that the disappointing payout pushed her to stop posting on the platform altogether.
South Africans React
Social media users were stunned by the revelation, with many questioning the value of X’s monetisation system. Phil Mphela’s post quickly amassed responses from users expressing disbelief and frustration.
Twitter user @owarafela quipped, “Explains why verified accounts no longer flex their X remuneration. They’re getting R10s lmfaoooooooooo.”
Another user, @nicki_D_, commented, “But isn’t it that the ‘remuneration’ is decided based on the contents of the post? Hence Elon always says, ‘you are the media now.’”
The Monetisation Puzzle
X offers several ways for creators to earn money, such as Ad Revenue Sharing and Super Follows. However, these programmes come with stringent requirements, including:
- A minimum of 500 verified followers.
- At least 5 million impressions in the past three months.
- An active subscription to X Premium or Verified Organisations.
Despite these options, many creators argue that the earnings fail to match their efforts.
User @Grandson275 remarked, “Yho, that’s kinda like $23 or $25, and he [Elon Musk] has 10th of billions of those.”
Meanwhile, others suggested exploring alternative platforms. @kamogelolesley1 advised, “People should try Facebook; it pays for every post you make.”
Questions About Fairness
The claims have sparked broader discussions about whether X’s monetisation policies are fair to creators. Some users even demanded transparency. @BhovuRbay tweeted, “Elon must give us proof of income with all the deductibles.”
Despite the criticism, X’s programmes remain a draw for some creators. To be eligible, creators must adhere to strict guidelines, including having a complete profile, securing their account with two-factor authentication, and being in good standing with X’s rules.
The incident raises questions about the monetisation models for social media creators. Is the effort worth the reward?