Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and Threads, has taken a significant step towards increasing transparency and improving the flow of information on its platforms with the introduction of Community Notes.
This new feature, which is currently rolling out in the U.S., allows users to add context to potentially misleading or confusing posts.
The initiative marks a clear departure from Meta’s previous reliance on third-party fact-checking organizations, placing the power to highlight helpful information in the hands of the platform’s community.
What Are Community Notes?
Community Notes enables users to contribute by writing notes on posts they believe need additional context.
This could include background information, tips, or insights that help clarify or correct misleading content. The key difference with this system is that it’s community-driven. Instead of Meta or third-party fact-checkers deciding what content should be flagged or corrected, it's the community members themselves who will rate and decide which notes are helpful and should be published.
As noted by Meta’s Chief Global Affairs Officer, Joel Kaplan,
“The community notes program is just about providing additional information and context so people can make their own decisions, but it doesn’t apply any distribution penalties or limit the flow of information through the algorithm.”
This approach allows for a broader and more diverse set of perspectives, ensuring that a wider variety of voices contribute to the content’s context.
Meta’s Approach to Transparency and Truth
Meta’s shift to community-based transparency is grounded in its belief that it should not be the sole arbiter of truth. The platform has long maintained that it prefers to surface information that helps people decide what to read, trust, or share.
Kaplan emphasized this shift when he said,
“We had a third-party, fact-checking program, which was well-intentioned at the beginning but proved to be really prone to partisan political bias and destroyed a lot of trust and credibility in the system.”
With Community Notes, Meta aims to restore some of that trust by allowing people to contribute their own knowledge and insights, instead of relying solely on external entities. The feature is designed to empower users, fostering a more transparent and open dialogue on the platform.
How Community Notes Will Work
To become a contributor, users must meet certain eligibility criteria.
Contributors must be based in the U.S., be over 18 years old, have an account that is at least six months old, and have two-factor authentication enabled.
Once eligible, users can write and submit notes on public content across Facebook, Instagram, and Threads. The notes must be concise, limited to 500 characters, and can include relevant links to provide additional context.
For a note to be published, it must receive enough support from other contributors. This is where the community-driven aspect comes into play.
Meta’s system checks to see whether contributors who often disagree on content agree that a specific note is helpful. Kaplan explains the process, saying,
“The algorithm only applies a community note when people who normally disagree agree that something is misleading.”
This method helps ensure that notes are not skewed by any one group’s perspective.
Impact on Content and Users
One of the key aspects of Community Notes is that it will not penalize content that receives a note.
Unlike Meta’s previous third-party fact-checking system, which reduced the visibility of content marked as misleading, posts with Community Notes will remain unaffected in terms of reach. The intention behind this is clear: Meta wants users to be able to see both the original post and the additional context side by side, empowering them to make their own informed decisions.
Kaplan also stated,
“We want to make sure that the full range of information is provided.”
This philosophy means that no content will be hidden or censored as a result of receiving a community note. Instead, the feature serves as a tool for providing clarity, without limiting the flow of information.
Why This Shift Was Necessary
Meta’s move to replace its third-party fact-checking program comes after criticism that the system was often biased, and users had lost trust in its ability to fairly assess content.
In light of the growing concerns about content moderation and misinformation, Meta decided to implement a new system that would provide more room for diverse viewpoints, thus reducing the potential for political bias.
Kaplan reflected on the previous fact-checking system, saying,
“The third-party fact-checking program had penalties attached to it, where if something was rated false, we would dramatically reduce its distribution.”
He believes that this system, which Meta is replacing with Community Notes, ended up suppressing certain voices rather than helping to inform users.
Exemptions and What’s Not Affected
While Meta is strengthening its Community Notes feature, some content will not be affected by the new rules.
In this current form, advertisements will not be eligible to receive Community Notes. The feature is designed to work with organic content, so ads will remain outside the scope of this program.
Politicians' content is also eligible for Community Notes. This means posts made by political figures or government entities can receive additional context or clarifications through the community-driven system. However, Meta has stated that they will take time to ensure the system is fully tested and refined before widespread implementation on political content.
This careful approach helps Meta ensure that the Community Notes feature is rolled out with accuracy and transparency, giving users additional context when engaging with potentially misleading or confusing posts while avoiding overreach in areas like ads or political content.
Shaping the Future of Online Transparency
Looking ahead, Meta plans to expand Community Notes to other countries and languages. For now, the feature will be available in six languages, including English, Spanish, and French, with plans for further expansion. The rollout will be gradual, with users on a waitlist gaining access in batches.
Meta's transparent approach to the feature rollout, coupled with its commitment to improving the platform’s transparency, sets a new standard for how social media can empower its users. As the Community Notes feature evolves, it will likely inspire other platforms to adopt similar practices, further enhancing the quality of information available online.
