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🚨 New audit: Are tech platforms playing fair with creators? We reviewed the #monetization terms of YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat and X The result? **Not a single platform fully complies with Article 14 of the Digital Services Act (DSA).** 🧵

Our main finding: the rules governing how creators get paid remain a **black box**. Millions of creators and publishers are subject to broad discretionary decisions, with little transparency about how monetization works or how it can be taken away.

One of the most surprising findings: 🔒 YouTube's monetization terms aren't publicly accessible. You can only view them if you're logged in and already meet eligibility requirements. It's hard to scrutinize rules that the public can't even read.

Every platform we audited reserves the right to restrict monetization or withhold payments at its **"sole discretion"**. TikTok goes even further, allowing termination for "convenience".

Financial transparency is also lacking. 𝕏 states that creators should have **"no expectation"** that revenue-sharing rates will remain the same over time. That leaves creators with little clarity about how revenue is calculated or redistributed.

The compliance scores are poor: ❌ Instagram: 1/8 DSA requirements met ❌ TikTok: 1/8 ⚠️ Even the best performers—X and Snapchat—met only 3 and 4/8. There's significant room for improvement across the board.

Language accessibility is another problem. Despite legal obligations, some platforms fail to provide proper translations. Example: Instagram's "Gaelic" and Latvian versions simply display the English text.

Perhaps most concerning: None of the platforms explain the procedures, measures, or tools used to enforce monetization restrictions. Creators and publishers often don't know: • why they're restricted • how decisions are made • what role algorithms play