Removing creator payment programs might be the right move, but there's more to the story. The real shift happened when content became explicitly monetized—once creators started chasing payouts, the entire feed dynamics transformed. What we've seen is engagement patterns becoming increasingly engineered rather than organic. When financial incentives enter the equation, it fundamentally reshapes what people post and how they interact. Quality takes a backseat to metrics. For platforms trying to rebuild trust and authenticity, rethinking the monetization model isn't just about cutting features—it's about resetting the underlying incentive structure that drives behavior.