Footnotes, TikTok’s crowdsourced fact-checks, launches in the US

On Wednesday, TikTok introduced Footnotes, a new crowdsourced fact-checking feature similar to those offered by X (formerly Twitter) and Meta’s Community Notes. This pilot program is set to launch for users in the U.S., enabling contributors to write and evaluate Footnotes associated with TikTok videos. All TikTok users in the U.S. will have access to view notes deemed helpful and can contribute by rating them. TikTok first revealed its intentions to implement Footnotes back in April, highlighting its goal to provide users with additional context around the content shared on the platform. The mechanism behind Footnotes employs a bridging algorithm designed to identify consensus among users with differing perspectives. If contributors from both sides agree that a note is useful, it is deemed more likely to be accurate. This approach also mitigates the risk of brigading, where individuals attempt to skew voting in a particular direction. Footnotes aim to enhance user understanding of content by offering more information and context. Sometimes, video creators may unintentionally misrepresent a situation or overlook crucial updates that could be beneficial for viewers. Since opening applications for contributors in April, TikTok reports that nearly 80,000 U.S. users have qualified to participate, provided they are 18 or older, have been on TikTok for over six months, and have a clean record concerning Community Standards. Although Footnotes is a new addition for TikTok, the concept of Community Notes has been around for several years, initiated by Twitter with its Birdwatch feature in 2020. This program evolved into Community Notes and has expanded under the new management of Elon Musk. The introduction of similar systems across various social media platforms reflects a growing trend to address concerns about bias in traditional fact-checking methods. Meta, in an effort to reconcile with conservative users, transitioned to its Community Notes system this year, raising alarms over potential misinformation. YouTube is also testing a comparable feature called Notes, which was launched last year. TikTok emphasizes that Footnotes will bolster its existing Global Fact-checking Program rather than replace it, as the company continues to collaborate with over 20 accredited fact-checking organizations worldwide, covering more than 60 languages and operating across 130 markets.