Meta Begins Testing Crowd-Sourced Community Notes in US to Tackle Misinformation

Testing has officially begun for Community Notes, Meta's crowd-sourced alternative to third-party fact-checking, on Facebook, Instagram, and Threads in the United States, marking a significant shift in how misinformation is tackled on the company's platforms.

Meta's new system, inspired by X’s (formerly Twitter) Community Notes, relies on users to add context and caveats directly to posts rather than using professional fact-checkers. The company believes this method, which requires contributors with diverse views to reach consensus, will reduce bias and operate at a larger scale.

Meta’s decision, first announced in January and operational as of March 18, 2025, comes in the wake of significant criticism and political pressure, particularly surrounding the 2024 US presidential election and concerns about censorship.

Community Notes allow any eligible user—aged 18 or older with an account older than six months, in good standing, and verified via phone or two-factor authentication—to contribute additional context to posts. These notes, limited to 500 characters, must include a supporting link. Importantly, a note will only be published if users with differing viewpoints broadly agree on its usefulness, preventing majority-driven bias or organised campaigns designed to manipulate the system.

Initially, notes will remain private to allow Meta to test and refine the system. Approximately 200,000 users have signed up to be potential contributors, but Meta will gradually and randomly select participants from this waitlist. Contributors will remain anonymous to ensure notes are rated purely on their value, not the reputation or identity of the writer.

The Community Notes feature will initially be available in six commonly used languages in the US: English, Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, French, and Portuguese, with further languages planned for future expansion. The notes must include evidence via linked sources and will have a strict 500-character limit.

Unlike previous third-party fact-checks, Community Notes will not affect a post's visibility or reach across Meta’s platforms. This marks a distinct departure from past policies where flagged content faced reduced distribution.

Meta’s new system closely follows a similar approach first developed by Elon Musk’s social media platform X (formerly Twitter), employing X's open-source algorithm. Meta intends to adapt and enhance the existing open-source technology, customising it to better fit its unique platforms.

Experts and former fact-checking organisations have expressed scepticism. They argue professional fact-checking provided greater accountability and credibility, warning that a crowdsourced system could expose marginalised communities to greater harm through unchecked misinformation.

Previously, fact-checking became heavily politicised, especially in the US, culminating in public debates over its fairness and neutrality. Meta's decision to switch to Community Notes has sparked further debate, with critics viewing it as capitulation to political pressure, particularly from conservative voices accusing platforms of censorship.

Ultimately, Meta plans to roll out Community Notes globally, but for now, third-party fact-checking will continue outside the US. Meta has not indicated whether existing partnerships with over 100 global fact-checking organisations will face termination in the future.

The move to Community Notes symbolises a pivotal moment in social media moderation, highlighting the ongoing tension between freedom of expression and the fight against misinformation.