By Zainab Shafiq 
In a bold move to redefine how misinformation is tackled online, Meta has unveiled its new “Community Notes” feature, set to launch on March 18. This initiative marks a significant departure from traditional third-party fact-checking, instead empowering users to collaboratively assess and contextualize content across Facebook, Instagram, and Threads.
The announcement comes amid a broader shift in Meta’s strategy, which has seen the company scale back diversity programs and ease content moderation rules. Critics argue these changes could amplify harmful speech, but Meta insists the new system will foster transparency and inclusivity.
Unlike traditional fact-checking, which often limits the reach of flagged content, Community Notes will allow users to add context without penalizing distribution. Notes, limited to 500 characters and requiring supporting links, will only appear when contributors with opposing viewpoints agree on their accuracy. “This isn’t majority rules,” Meta emphasized, highlighting the system’s focus on consensus.
Meta Community Notes attract 200,000 users with launch
The feature, inspired by X’s (formerly Twitter) open-source model, has already attracted 200,000 potential contributors in the U.S. Eligible users must be over 18, have accounts older than six months, and maintain good standing. Meta plans to roll out the feature gradually, starting with six languages: English, Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, French, and Portuguese.
While the company aims to expand globally, it confirmed that third-party fact-checking will remain in place for regions where Community Notes are not yet available.
The move has sparked mixed reactions. Supporters applaud the democratization of content moderation, while critics, including UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, warn that reducing fact-checking safeguards could exacerbate online hate and violence.
As Meta tests this crowd-sourced approach, the world watches to see whether Community Notes will strike the right balance between free expression and responsible moderation.
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