TikTok Footnotes: Crowdsourced Fact-Checks Launch in the US

TikTok Launches Footnotes: A Crowdsourced Fact-Checking System

On Wednesday, TikTok announced the official public release of Footnotes, a new system for crowdsourced fact-checking. This initiative mirrors similar features found on platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and Meta, known as Community Notes.

Initially, the technology will be available to users in the United States as a pilot program. This allows participants to both create and evaluate Footnotes associated with TikTok videos.

How Footnotes Works

All TikTok users within the U.S. will be able to view notes that have received helpful ratings. They can also contribute by submitting their own ratings for these notes.

TikTok initially revealed plans to test Footnotes back in April. The feature was described as a method for providing additional context surrounding content on the platform.

Bridging Algorithm for Consensus

TikTok’s approach, similar to X’s Community Notes, utilizes a bridging algorithm. This algorithm aims to identify areas of agreement among individuals with differing viewpoints.

If a note receives positive ratings from both sides of an issue, it is considered more likely to be accurate. This design also serves as a safeguard against coordinated voting attempts, known as brigading, where a single group tries to manipulate the system.

Adding Context and Understanding

The company believes these notes will enhance user understanding of content by providing supplementary information and context.

Sometimes, video creators may intentionally present a misleading narrative. In other instances, they might simply be unaware of relevant information or recent updates that could benefit viewers.

Contributor Eligibility

TikTok began accepting applications from U.S. users to become Footnotes contributors in April. Applicants needed to be at least 18 years old, have an account active for over six months, and maintain a clean record regarding TikTok’s Community Standards.

To date, nearly 80,000 U.S. users have met the qualifications to participate as Footnotes contributors.

The Evolution of Community Notes-Style Features

While new to TikTok, the concept of community-based fact-checking has been in development for several years.

Twitter, now X, first introduced this idea as Birdwatch in 2020. The program officially launched as Birdwatch fact-checks the following year and expanded globally in 2022. Under Elon Musk’s ownership, the feature, now called Community Notes, has continued to evolve.

Recent developments include the integration of AI for note generation and new methods for highlighting popular content.

Influence and Adoption Across Platforms

X’s open-source Community Notes model has inspired similar systems at other social media companies. This is particularly true for platforms seeking to address concerns from conservatives who perceived traditional fact-checking as biased.

Meta, in an attempt to avoid increased regulation and improve relations with the Trump administration, replaced its traditional fact-checking program with its own Community Notes system in the U.S. earlier this year. This change raised concerns about the potential spread of misinformation.

YouTube is also currently testing a similar feature called Notes, which was launched last year.

TikTok’s Approach: Expansion, Not Replacement

TikTok emphasizes that its Footnotes initiative will complement, rather than replace, its existing Global Fact-checking Program.

The company continues to collaborate with over 20 fact-checking organizations accredited by the International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN), operating in more than 60 languages across 130 markets worldwide.