This needs to be attention-grabbing.

As a part of its renewed effort to get extra creators posting long-form content material to the app, X has introduced that it’ll pay out one million {dollars} to the creator of the most well-liked X article posted throughout the present payout interval, which ends on January thirtieth.

As per X:

“We’re doubling down on what creators on 𝕏 do finest: writing. In 2026, our purpose is to acknowledge high-value, high-impact content material that shapes dialog, breaks information and strikes tradition.”

X says that the profitable article should be authentic, be not less than 1,000 phrases in size, and can be judged “totally on Verified Residence Timeline impressions.”

Additionally, solely U.S. customers are eligible.

You additionally, after all, need to be an X Premium subscriber, as a result of X’s long-form publishing choice is barely accessible to paying customers, although X did just lately increase articles to all X Premium subscribers, not simply Premium+ clients.

Which, primarily based on X’s Premium subscriber numbers, implies that most likely fewer than 300k customers are eligible for the prize. And with a fraction of these customers really posting long-form content material, your probabilities of changing into a millionaire are literally fairly good. I imply, means higher odds than the lottery.

So how will you win?

Properly, the important thing aspect to remember right here is that the first standards is verified impressions, or what number of occasions your long-form article is proven to paying X customers. And since the algorithm will present articles to customers primarily based on engagement, that implies that you’ll want to put in writing one thing that’ll resonate with X’s paying consumer base.

I do know what you’re pondering, however wanting on the precise X articles knowledge, you will have to perform a little extra than simply writing one thing that aligns with Elon’s favourite pet matters.

Possibly.

X articles engagement insights from final yr, the highest 5 best-performing articles on the platform had been:

  • A deep dive into alleged irregularities and accountability points on the Pentagon, sparking discussions on authorities transparency.
  • An in-depth exploration of world financial traits, fiscal insurance policies, and funding methods in a unstable market.
  • A passionate fan perspective on Tesla’s improvements, management, and future in electrical automobiles and tech.
  • A humorous but pointed satirical tackle present occasions, mixing comedy with social commentary.
  • One other entry in Amuse’s collection of satirical commentaries on politics and tradition, contributing to their main place.

So really, publishing a put up about how authorities regulation is dangerous, however Tesla is nice, would most likely be one of the simplest ways to go, as a lot of you will have guessed.

Need a simple $1 million?

I might recommend writing an article about how Grok is now so nice at inventory market evaluation and prediction which you can let it make your inventory buying and selling selections for you, and the way you’ve used this technique to generate thousands and thousands utilizing your individual money.

Possibly it’s true, perhaps not, however I assure it can hit all the important thing markers for X Premium customers (particularly for those who additionally embrace a word about the way you used the money to purchase a Cybertruck).

So, what’s X’s goal right here?

Properly, as I famous earlier within the month, X could be very eager to get extra long-form content material flowing via its circuits, as a method to increase on its information financial institution for its xAI tasks. X clearly has a heap of short-form posts to feed into its system, however it additionally wants longer, extra in-depth reporting, and it’s hoping that it could persuade extra journalists, particularly, to put up extra of their stuff to the app, with a purpose to increase its insights stream.

But, on the identical time, Elon continues to amplify his many, many private gripes with “mainstream” journalists through his X account, which is probably the most adopted single profile within the app, whereas his varied adjustments to the platform have reworked what was as soon as a key platform for journalists right into a hostile atmosphere, which only a few can be trying to come again to anytime quickly.

Certain, $1 million is an enormous carrot, however the necessity to enchantment to paying X customers could be very a lot a complicating issue, which is unlikely to seize the eye of the meant goal group.

However it can result in an inflow of long-form content material, within the short-term not less than, and it may assist to boost curiosity in X posting to some extent. Whether or not this can be a one-off prize or a part of X’s longer-term push to make increase creator payouts is one other issue that can play a component.

My guess can be that some partisan, AI-generated assume piece will take out the prize on the finish of the month, and that X will abandon the idea fully shortly after, as soon as it finds out that Grok is definitely the author (anticipate Elon to sue the winner with a purpose to recoup the prize cash if that is so).

X will then do what each different platform is doing, signal offers with publishers to feed in additional long-form materials, however for now, X is making an attempt out one other method to meet two key targets, in bringing extra content material to the app, and getting extra in-depth writing to enhance its AI outputs.

I believe they’ll must do much more to make X a extra interesting dwelling for high quality long-form content material, however perhaps, throwing sufficient cash at it can kickstart a snowball impact for X articles.