X Clamps Down on Reward-Based Apps to Combat Platform Spam

On January 15th, the X platform unveiled a significant update to its developer guidelines that takes direct aim at reward-incentivized applications. According to Nikita Bier, a Product Manager at X, the platform is moving to restrict what are known as InfoFi-type apps—applications designed to compensate users for posting activity. The decision marks a turning point in how X manages third-party development and user engagement mechanisms.

New Developer Policy Targeting InfoFi Applications

The updated developer policy takes a hardline stance against apps that use rewards as a primary mechanism to attract and retain users. These InfoFi applications, which proliferate across social platforms, have become notorious for flooding timelines with low-quality, often AI-generated content and repetitive spam responses. By prohibiting developers from leveraging reward systems, X aims to improve the overall quality of user-generated content and restore a cleaner platform experience.

The enforcement is not merely theoretical—X has revoked API access for applications currently operating under this model. This tangible enforcement sends a clear message to the developer community about the platform’s commitment to content quality over growth through incentive mechanics.

Why X Took Action Against Reward Mechanisms

The proliferation of reward-based apps has created a fundamental challenge for social platforms: they incentivize volume over value. Users are encouraged to post frequently and recklessly, with the goal of accumulating rewards, rather than contributing meaningfully to discussions. The result is a cascade of mediocre content, automated responses, and spam that degrades the experience for genuine users seeking authentic interaction.

X’s move reflects a broader industry trend of platforms reassessing how third-party apps shape user behavior and content quality. By removing the financial incentive to post indiscriminately, the platform hopes to restore focus to content that matters.

Options Available for Affected Developers

For developers whose accounts have been suspended or revoked due to this policy change, X is offering a path forward: migration assistance to alternative platforms. Developers can reach out to X for support in transitioning their applications to Threads or Bluesky, both of which operate different business models and may have different policies regarding reward mechanisms.

This approach balances enforcement with pragmatism, acknowledging that developers have invested time and resources into their apps while establishing clear boundaries for future development on X.