Is Mark Zuckerberg taking a page from Elon Musk’s playbook? Meta’s latest move to introduce a crowdsourced fact-checking system eerily mirrors Musk’s approach at X, signaling what could be a major shift in how social media giants handle misinformation. He finally realized fact checkers lie!
At a glance:
• Meta is implementing “Community Notes,” a feature similar to X’s system for monitoring misinformation
• The feature will use X’s open-source algorithm but be modified for Facebook, Instagram, and Threads
• Mark Zuckerberg proposed this as a potential replacement for third-party fact-checking in the US
• Testing begins next week with users able to apply as contributors if they meet certain criteria
• Approximately 200,000 people have already signed up to participate as contributors
Zuckerberg Follows Musk’s Lead
In yet another vindication for Elon Musk’s approach to social media fact checking, Meta announced it will implement a crowdsourced fact-checking system called “Community Notes.” This system directly borrows technology developed by Musk’s X platform, formerly known as Twitter, signaling a significant shift in Meta’s content moderation strategy.
Meta will begin testing the feature next week in the United States, allowing users to provide context on potentially misleading posts across Facebook, Instagram, and Threads. The tech giant plans to modify X’s open-source algorithm for its own purposes, essentially adopting a system pioneered by its direct competitor.
Replacing Liberal Fact-Checkers
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has proposed Community Notes as a potential replacement for third-party fact-checking in the United States. This move comes after years of criticism from conservatives who have accused Meta’s platforms of employing biased fact-checkers that disproportionately target right-leaning content.
Unlike traditional fact-checking systems, Community Notes will not affect content visibility or sharing capabilities. Instead, the feature will simply provide additional context to posts, allowing users to make their own judgments about the information presented.
Contributors to the program can submit notes on most content except advertisements, including posts by Meta itself, its executives, and public figures. This approach mirrors X’s more hands-off stance toward content moderation, which has been praised by free speech advocates and conservatives alike.
The aim is to ensure that as many people as possible agree on something before it becomes an official “fact check.”
Growing Competition Between Tech Giants
The implementation of Community Notes represents just one aspect of the growing rivalry between Meta and X. Both companies have been increasingly mirroring each other’s features as they compete for users in the evolving social media landscape.
Unlike X, Meta is not currently planning to open source its version of Community Notes, though company representatives indicated they may consider doing so in the future. The tech giant has also implemented safeguards requiring agreement between different people to publish a note, in an attempt to prevent organized manipulation of the system.
Approximately 200,000 people have already signed up to be contributors to Meta’s Community Notes program, with the waitlist remaining open for interested users. The program will expand nationwide after successful initial beta testing and ongoing improvements, potentially transforming how misinformation is addressed across Meta’s platforms.
