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Meta to Launch “Community Notes” in the U.S. Using X’s Algorithm

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Meta will begin testing its new Community Notes feature in the U.S. starting March 18, utilizing technology from Elon Musk’s X, the company announced on Thursday. This move comes two months after Meta scrapped its fact-checking program under pressure from conservatives, signaling a shift from traditional fact-checking to a crowd-sourced model.

The feature will allow users to write and rate notes to flag false or misleading content across Instagram, Facebook, and Threads, effectively replacing the third-party fact-checkers that were previously responsible for content moderation. 200,000 U.S. users have already signed up as potential contributors to the new system.

Meta’s switch to the Community Notes program represents a significant overhaul in its approach to content management. The company has been keen to improve its relationship with the Trump administration, which has criticized social media platforms for silencing conservative voices. President Donald Trump praised Meta’s decision in January, acknowledging the shift toward a more inclusive and less biased content moderation process.

To power Community Notes, Meta will adopt X’s open-source algorithm, which was originally developed as part of X’s Birdwatch feature. The system, now known as Community Notes, allows users to contribute and vote on content’s accuracy. Meta’s version will limit notes to 500 characters and initially support six languages: English, Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, French, and Portuguese. Notes will remain anonymous and will be published only if users with differing viewpoints agree that the note provides helpful context.

Contributors must be over 18 and include a supporting link when posting notes. Meta has emphasized that this system will be less biased than the previous third-party fact-checking method. Once the new system is in place, third-party fact-check labels will no longer appear on U.S. content.

Meta, which boasts over 3 billion global users, continues to collaborate with nearly 100 certified fact-checking organizations across 60+ languages, according to the company.

Meta’s ‘Community Notes’ System Reportedly Excludes Paid Advertisements

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Meta, the parent company of Facebook, has revealed that its upcoming “Community Notes” feature, which draws inspiration from the model used on Elon Musk’s social media platform X, will not extend to paid advertisements. According to a source familiar with the matter, this new feature is expected to be introduced later this year in the United States. Meta plans to gradually roll out the system over the next few months, with continuous evaluation and adjustments anticipated throughout the year. A spokesperson for Meta emphasized that the company is still refining the product and intends to improve it as it moves forward.

The Community Notes feature is designed to allow users to provide context and additional information on content shared across Meta’s platforms. However, the spokesperson clarified that paid ads will be excluded from this system, meaning that advertisements will not be subject to community-driven fact-checking or clarification in the same way as organic posts. This distinction highlights Meta’s approach to balancing user interaction and the commercial aspects of its platform, ensuring that paid content remains under the purview of the company’s standard advertising policies.

In the context of the upcoming political climate, Meta is undergoing significant changes in how it manages content, particularly related to political discourse. Last week, the company made headlines by discontinuing its US fact-checking program, marking a shift in its approach to moderating political content. Instead, Meta has announced plans to implement the “Community Notes” system to manage the accuracy and context of posts surrounding sensitive topics. This change is seen as part of Meta’s broader efforts to navigate the evolving landscape of content moderation and user-generated information, especially in the run-up to the inauguration of US President-elect Donald Trump.

While the company has confirmed some details about the transition to Community Notes, a Meta spokesperson emphasized that further information beyond what has already been publicly shared remains speculative. As the rollout of this new system continues, it will likely be closely watched, both by users and regulatory bodies, as Meta seeks to address concerns about misinformation while still supporting a diverse range of viewpoints on its platforms.

Meta Scraps U.S. Fact-Checking Program Ahead of Trump Administration’s Return

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Meta Platforms (META.O) has announced the discontinuation of its fact-checking program in the U.S. and a reduction in its restrictions on controversial topics such as immigration and gender identity. This move, which represents a significant shift in Meta’s approach to political content, comes as the company adjusts to the expected return of President-elect Donald Trump to office.

The decision is seen as a response to conservative criticism, and CEO Mark Zuckerberg has emphasized the importance of returning to the company’s roots in promoting free expression. Meta will instead adopt a “community notes” system, which allows users to contribute to content moderation, similar to the model used by Elon Musk’s X platform. In addition, Meta will scale back its proactive efforts to detect and remove rule-breaking content, focusing its automated systems on high-severity violations like terrorism, child exploitation, and fraud.

Meta’s overhaul of its content moderation approach includes the relocation of teams responsible for writing and reviewing content policies from California to Texas and other U.S. locations. These changes are a result of more than a year of discussions within the company, although the specific details of the relocation remain unclear.

The decision to end the fact-checking program, initiated in 2016, has taken its partner organizations by surprise. Critics argue that the shift may facilitate the spread of disinformation, with some claiming it is politically motivated. Meta’s independent Oversight Board expressed support for the move, while fact-checkers and other journalistic organizations expressed concerns about the impact on credibility.

While these changes are initially limited to the U.S. market, Meta has not yet indicated whether similar adjustments will be made in other regions like the European Union, which has stricter tech regulations under its Digital Services Act.