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Some X users claim to be making thousands of dollars by sharing election misinformation, AI-generated images, and unfounded conspiracy theories.

Marianna Spring of the BBC has discovered networks of dozens of accounts that re-share content frequently throughout the day.

This content helps them reach more people and make more money on the website because it contains a mix of true, unfounded, false, and fake content.

From both their own and other accounts, a number of users claim to have made anywhere from a few hundred to thousands of dollars. They also work together to help each other out by sharing each other's posts on forums and group chats.

Some of these networks remain independent, while others back a variety of political figures, such as Kamala Harris and Donald Trump.

US politicians, including congressional candidates, have contacted several profiles claiming to be unrelated to official campaigns in search of posts of support.

Payments to eligible accounts with significant reach are now calculated based on engagement from premium users, such as likes, shares, and comments, rather than the number of ads under their posts, thanks to a rule change made by X on Oct. 9.

While many social media platforms permit users to share sponsored content or earn money from their posts, they frequently have rules that de-monetize or suspend profiles that post false information.

However, X does not have the same policies regarding false information. This raises questions about whether X is encouraging users to post provocative claims, regardless of whether or not they are true, at a time when US politics are at their most vulnerable.

The BBC found that some of these X users' reported earnings were credible when compared to what they would have earned based on their number of views, followers, and interactions with other profiles.

These networks shared misleading posts about extreme, unfounded accusations against presidential and vice presidential candidates, as well as claims about election fraud that had been refuted by authorities.

In one instance, a user with a small following on X made a fake image that showed Kamala Harris working at McDonald's when she was younger. The Democratic Party was then accused of manipulating images of its candidate, according to unsubstantiated claims made by other users.

Other social media platforms picked up on X's unproven conspiracy theories regarding the attempted assassination of Donald Trump in July.

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