They Tried to Beat the Algorithm… It Beat Them Back
Nigerian users have been asking why X stopped paying creators in Nigeria after many monetised accounts suddenly lost access to payouts this week.
Creators first noticed the issue when their monetisation dashboards showed payment pauses. When some reached out to X’s AI assistant, Grok, they were informed the suspension was linked to policy violations, including spam-style posting, engagement farming, and attempts to manipulate the platform’s algorithm.
The Real Reason Behind the Payment Ban
The problem appears connected to monetization “tutorials” circulating online. Some users reportedly paid about ₦3,000 to learn strategies for artificially boosting impressions and engagement in order to earn more from X’s Creator Revenue Sharing program.
That program pays creators based largely on engagement from verified subscribers, especially impressions on replies. But as more users tried to maximise earnings, some crossed into manipulation.
X’s machine-learning systems analyse posting patterns and can detect artificial engagement behaviour. Once flagged, monetisation gets suspended pending review.
Also Read: Why Free Apps Are More Expensive Than Paid Ones
Who Is Being Blamed?
Some creators have pointed fingers at a user identified as @sirdavidbent, who allegedly sold monetisation strategy courses. Others argue that regardless of where the tactics came from, anyone attempting to manipulate the system risks suspension.
Notably, X has not released an official statement confirming the reported 80–90% suspension rate in Nigeria.
What Happens Next?
X has not officially confirmed how many Nigerian accounts were affected. However, impacted users have been advised to submit appeals through support. According to Grok, accounts flagged by mistake may be restored after review.
For now, many creators who depended on the platform’s payouts remain uncertain whether their earnings will return or if monetisation privileges are permanently gone.
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