How to join the TikTok Creativity Program (or Creator Rewards Program)?
TikTok is no longer just for the younger generation! If you’re a mom who enjoys creating content on TikTok, you may be wondering how you can get while doing it. TikTok has revamped its highly controversial Creator Fund and now has a Creator Rewards Program to encourage content creators to lean into their passion.
If you already enjoy creating content on TikTok, why not monetize it?! That’s right, TikTok wants to pay creators for creating engaging audiences.
The idea of being a content creator or influencer has quickly become more acceptable and now people of all ages and backgrounds are considering making this a full-time gig, including moms!
Five years ago, I considered TikTok an app for the younger kids and I assumed that all they did on the app was cool short dances. In 2024, I am basically addicted to TikTok and I consume all sorts of content, including those cool little short dances.
Short-form content is perfect for those with a short attention span like myself. It’s a way to quickly consume content in between my duties of being a mom, full-time worker, and entrepreneur.
Luckily, back in 2020, TikTok realized that it needed to start paying its content creators for bringing audiences to their platform. TikTok first announced the now-defunct Creator Fund. After much controversy, TikTok shut the Creator Fund down and announced and revamped the Creativity Program.
Somewhere along the way the Creativity Program was renamed to the Creator Rewards Program. The important part is, if you meet a few eligibility requirements, you can start getting paid.
What was the TikTok Creator Fund?
The original TikTok Creator Fund was a program that designated money to eligible TikTok creators to get paid for doing what they love to do, create and share content.
The fund was made to encourage TikTokers to continue creating content by allowing them to make some money. In turn, this would encourage their audiences to keep logging into TikTok so it was a win-win situation all around.
The fund started in 2021 with 200 million dollars, promising to reach 1 billion over the next 3 years. There was no limit to the number of content creators that would be allowed to join the Fund. TikTok wanted to make sure to keep it open for any creator to turn their passion into a livelihood.
The eligibility requirements for the Creator Fund were as follows:
- Be based in the US, UK, France, Germany, Spain or Italy.
- Be at least 18 years old
- Have at least 10,000 followers
- Have at least 100,000 video views in the last 30 days
- Have an account that fits with the TikTok Community Guidelines and terms of service
In 2023, TikTok announced it was ending the Creator Fund, perhaps from a lot of controversy of creators getting barely getting paid for their viral videos. Instead, they were starting a new program called the Creativity Program.
What is the TikTok Creativity Program or the Creator Rewards Program?
The Creativity Program is similar to the Creator Fund in many ways, the major one being that TikTok wants to pay content creators for their hard work. This program is still in the Beta phase, but it seems to be paying much better than the controversial Creator Fund.
TikTok has decided to be a bit more quiet on how much the Creativity Program plans to pay out but like the Creator Fund, the program is available to any content creator that meets a few eligibility requirements:
- Be based in the U.S., U.K., Brazil, France, Germany, Japan, and Korea, and do not use a VPN or other similar tool
- Have at least 10,000 authentic followers on the Platform;
- Have at least 100,000 authentic video views in total over the last 30 days before joining the Creativity Program Beta
- Not a business account
- Not an employee of TikTok
- Account is in good standing with the Terms of Service and the Community Guidelines.
The eligibility requirements seem pretty similar to the Creator Fund, but they have expanded the countries that are allowed in the platform.
What Content is Eligible for Payout in the Creator Rewards Program?
On top of the overall eligibility requirements, TikTok has now added video requirements:
- Must be at least one minute or longer
- Must reach at least 1,000 qualified views
- Not a Duet or Stitch video
- It is not a photo-mode video
- It is not an advertisement, paid promotion, or sponsored content
- It is original content
- Abide by the Terms of Service, Community Guidelines, and Copyright Policy
The exact definition of qualified views is a bit mysterious but TikTok states that they are views that are five seconds or more, not marked by the view as “not interested” and the views must come from different accounts.
How to Join the TikTok Creator Rewards Program?
You can see if you’re eligible for the TikTok Creator Rewards Program by:
- Going to your Profile and clicking the arrow in the top right corner.
- Then clicking TikTok Sudio
- Under Monetization, you’ll see the Creator Rewards Program
- You’ll be met with a screen letting you know if you can join yet or not. You can also choose to be notified when you are eligible on this screen.
If you’re eligible to join, you’ll fill out a short application and you should hear back in 3 days. That’s it!
What if I Don’t Qualify?
If your passion is creating content, then I would suggest getting on a regular posting schedule to get my views and followers. Try to stay in the same niche, so that people who view your video will be able to get a clear indication of what type of content you post if they view your profile.
Be sure to put the type of content that you post in your bio as well.
At the end of every video put a call-to-action to follow you if viewers want to see more content in the same niche.
Just like anything else, it may take a bit of work and dedication to gain enough views and followers to join the Creator Rewards Program. Don’t get discouraged! Just continue to stick to your posting schedule.
In the meantime, you may qualify for other programs like the Amazon Influencer program to make some cash on the side.
Whatever you do, don’t stop working towards your goal of joining the Creator Rewards Program!
