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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.

Reddit Introduces New Tools for Content Moderation and Analytics to Boost User Engagement

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On Thursday, Reddit unveiled a suite of new tools designed to improve content moderation and provide users with better insights into their content’s performance. These tools are part of the platform’s broader strategy to enhance user engagement, especially in light of a recent dip in quarterly user growth due to changes in Google’s algorithm, which initially impacted traffic. However, CEO Steve Huffman noted last month that traffic from Google has since recovered.

In an effort to compete in the increasingly crowded social media space, Reddit is following the footsteps of rivals like Meta (META.O) by investing in features that attract more users and improve the overall experience on the platform.

One of the key features introduced is the “rules check” tool, currently being tested for smartphones. This feature helps users better adhere to specific subreddit guidelines, ensuring content aligns with community rules. Reddit has also rolled out a post recovery tool that allows users to repost content to an alternative subreddit if their original post is removed due to rule violations.

Additionally, Reddit will recommend subreddits based on a user’s post content and inform them of the criteria needed to post in specific communities. The platform also revamped its post insights feature, offering detailed metrics on a post’s performance, including engagement statistics and audience interactions, to help users refine future content.

In December, Reddit introduced Reddit Answers, an AI-powered search tool currently in beta, which provides curated summaries of community discussions. This tool is intended to further enhance the platform’s search capabilities and provide users with quick, relevant information.

US House Panel Subpoenas Alphabet Over Content Moderation Communications

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The U.S. House Judiciary Committee subpoenaed Alphabet (GOOGL.O) on Thursday, demanding the tech giant provide communications with the Biden administration regarding content moderation policies. This subpoena, led by House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, a Republican, also includes requests for similar communications with external entities, such as companies and groups outside of the government.

The subpoena focuses on communications about the moderation or potential banning of content related to various conservative topics, including discussions about President Donald Trump, Tesla CEO Elon Musk, COVID-19, and other conservative issues. This move follows heightened scrutiny of Big Tech by Republicans, who argue that these platforms suppress conservative viewpoints through their moderation policies.

In the past, the Trump administration and members of Congress have criticized Big Tech for allegedly silencing conservative voices online. U.S. Federal Trade Commission Chairman Andrew Ferguson has warned that companies that coordinated moderation efforts or misled users about their policies might be violating the law.

Last year, under similar scrutiny, Meta Platforms disclosed that it had faced pressure from the Biden administration to censor content, leading the company to scale back its content moderation policies. However, Jordan’s letter to Alphabet noted that the company had not yet disavowed any attempts by the Biden administration to censor speech, unlike Meta.

In response, Google spokesperson Jose Castaneda affirmed that Alphabet would continue to demonstrate to the committee how it enforces policies independently, emphasizing its commitment to free expression.