X launches a clipping tool that pays creators and clip-makers

To make a clip, users tap the repost icon, select “Clip video” and trim a section. They can add commentary, and a “Clip from” label links viewers to the exact point in the original video. The tool is available on iOS and Android, with web access planned. It currently supports prerecorded videos at least two minutes long; clips must run from five to 60 seconds and cannot exceed 30 percent of the original.

X has not published a fixed rate for clip payments. Creators and marketers have already hired people to cut and post footage through Discord servers and marketplaces such as Whop. Business Insider reported earlier this year that campaigns typically paid $1 to $4 per 1,000 views. One Whop listing offered $1.75 per 1,000 views for clips of Sofia Franklyn’s Nov. 10 appearance on Aspire With Emma Grede—$175 for 100,000 qualifying views before fees, assuming the clip met the campaign’s terms.

Some users welcomed the feature. X creator @0xhades called it “HUGE for creators and their payouts,” while another user wrote, “Whoa this is crazy useful. Nice.” X says it is working on an opt-out for creators who do not want their videos clipped, but that option is not yet available.

The launch contrasts with YouTube’s recent approach to Shorts. Mashable reported in October that YouTube was changing recommendations to reduce reach for reposts that add little to the source. The company wants clippers to contribute commentary, creative editing or a story around the footage. If X’s tool catches on, podcasters may have an added reason to upload full episodes to the platform and let viewers select the moments worth sharing.