TikTok is the latest social media platform to roll out a crowdsourced fact-checking experiment. Its version is called Footnotes.

The social platform says the new feature won’t replace the partnerships with more than 20 fact-checkers that currently debunk misinformation on TikTok. Users in the U.S., over the age of 18, who have used the platform with no recent violations of community guidelines, can apply to contribute to Footnotes starting today.

“Our comments section and other tools like Stitch and Duet already empower people to share their opinions and engage in dialogue around content,” the company said in a release. “Footnotes offers a new opportunity for people to share their expertise and add an additional layer of context to the discussion using a consensus-driven approach.”

X launched the first major crowdsourced fact-checking experiment in 2021, originally called Birdwatch and now known as Community Notes. YouTube added its own in 2024, and Meta followed in a high-profile move that included severing professional fact-checking from its platforms.

As a standalone trust and safety feature, crowdsourced fact-checking falls short of meaningfully curbing misinformation on social media, according to four years of Poynter analyses of Community Notes. But if TikTok does indeed retain professional fact-checkers, its program has the greatest chance of success. The pros can still quickly debunk the most harmful and viral misinformation, while Footnotes contributors can add context to videos that don’t meet that threshold.

In previous Poynter analyses, we’ve found Community Notes contributors are quick to flag misleading video game advertisements, scams and images created with generative artificial intelligence. As part of a holistic fact-checking approach, crowdsourcing can be an effective way to increase the volume of debunks on a social media platform.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and others have applauded a crowdsourced system’s scale: Lots of contributors equals lots of notes.

And Community Notes has served as a model for other platforms, including its bridging algorithm, which only shows a note (fact check) to all users if it’s upvoted by people with a wide range of perspectives. But in practice, that means conservatives and liberals have to agree for a a note to appear — a design that hobbles the system’s ability to surface lots of notes.

X’s Community Notes has consistently surfaced less than 10% of notes left by contributors, according to a Poynter analysis. That number has gone down following a change to the algorithm in late February — a week after Elon Musk complained about note debunking anti-Ukraine misinformation — and another April 1. Since the beginning of March, the ratio of public notes has dropped to 8.2% and is at 7.6% so far this month.

This year, Community Notes contributors have managed to append 230 “helpful” fact checks to posts on average each day. And since the program launched, roughly 134,000 posts have been flagged with a note — a blip considering the millions of posts shared every day on X.

There is no measure of accuracy or quality — the only metric of success is whether the note was “helpful” to a variety of perspectives. And X ended a feature that allowed users to tag misinformation as “harmful” in October 2022.

Community Notes has been a good model for other platforms in its transparency around the system. The bridging algorithm is public, as is data on all the notes left by contributors.

Fact-checkers enrolled in Meta’s own Community Notes program have started flagging misinformation but haven’t seen any of their notes attached to posts. The company has not made the algorithm or data behind the system public, so measuring its success will be difficult for journalists and researchers.

The looming ban or sale of TikTok clouds Footnotes’ future. But, as Poynter reported in November 2022, Musk in a surprise move embraced Birdwatch after buying Twitter.

date: 2025-04-16 22:23:00

TikTok Footnotes: Fighting Misinformation with Community-Powered Fact-Checking

Table of Contents

TikTok Footnotes: Fighting Misinformation with Community-Powered Fact-Checking

TikTok, the wildly popular short-form video platform, is taking a significant step towards combating misinformation with the introduction of “Footnotes,” a new feature drawing inspiration from Twitter’s (now X’s) Community notes. this initiative aims to leverage the collective intelligence of the TikTok community to provide contextual information and fact-checking directly on potentially misleading videos.

What are TikTok Footnotes?

Footnotes are essentially user-generated notes attached to TikTok videos. When a video is flagged as potentially containing misleading or inaccurate information, vetted contributors can add footnotes that provide clarifying context, links to credible sources, and alternative perspectives. Think of them as annotations that help viewers make informed judgments about the content they’re consuming.

The feature is designed to be collaborative and transparent. Multiple contributors can submit footnotes for the same video,and these submissions are then evaluated by an algorithm and potentially human moderators to determine which notes are most helpful and accurate. The accepted footnote is then displayed prominently beneath the video, allowing viewers to see the additional information before they form an opinion.

How TikTok Footnotes Will Work: A Detailed Breakdown

The process of adding and displaying Footnotes involves several key steps:

Video Flagging: TikTok users, fact-checking organizations, and internal moderators can flag videos they suspect of containing misinformation.
Contributor Invitation & Submission: A select group of vetted contributors, identified based on their expertise, history of accurate contributions, and adherence to TikTok’s community guidelines, are invited to add footnotes to the flagged video.
Note Creation: Contributors draft concise and informative notes, providing context, corrections, or links to reputable sources that contradict the video’s claims.
Evaluation and Approval: An algorithm analyzes the submitted footnotes based on factors like cited sources, clarity, and neutrality. Human moderators may also review the notes to ensure quality and accuracy.
Footnote Display: the most helpful and accurate footnote is displayed directly beneath the video, visible to all viewers.
User Feedback: Viewers can provide feedback on the usefulness of the footnote, helping to refine the system and improve the accuracy of future notes.

Key Aspects of the Footnote System

Transparency: The Footnote clearly indicates that it was added by a community contributor, not by TikTok itself.
Source Citation: Contributors are encouraged to cite credible sources to support their claims.
Neutrality: Footnotes should provide factual information without expressing personal opinions or biases.
Accessibility: Footnotes should be written in clear and concise language, easily understood by a broad audience.

Why is TikTok Implementing Footnotes? The Fight Against Misinformation

TikTok’s massive user base, especially among younger demographics, makes it a fertile ground for the spread of misinformation. Videos can quickly go viral, reaching millions of viewers within hours, making it crucial to address false or misleading content promptly. Footnotes represent a proactive effort to mitigate the impact of misinformation on the platform. It’s about fostering a more informed and responsible online habitat.

The Growing Problem of Misinformation on Social Media

Social media platforms have become significant vectors for the dissemination of inaccurate or misleading information,often referred to as “fake news.” This phenomenon presents a range of challenges:

Erosion of Trust: Widespread misinformation can erode public trust in institutions, including government, media, and science.
Political Polarization: Misleading narratives can exacerbate political divisions and contribute to social unrest.
Health Consequences: Inaccurate health information can lead to poor decisions regarding medical treatment and public health measures.
Financial Scams: Misinformation is frequently enough used to promote fraudulent schemes and financial scams.

TikTok recognizes its responsibility in addressing these challenges and is actively working to develop solutions that protect its users and promote informed decision-making.

Benefits of TikTok’s Footnotes Feature

The implementation of Footnotes on TikTok offers several potential benefits:

Improved Accuracy: By providing contextual information and fact-checking, Footnotes can help to correct misinformation and ensure that viewers have access to accurate information.
Enhanced User Awareness: Footnotes can raise user awareness about the prevalence of misinformation and encourage them to critically evaluate the content they consume.
Community Empowerment: The feature empowers users to contribute to a more informed online environment.
Reduced Spread of Misinformation: by flagging and annotating misleading videos, Footnotes can help to slow down the spread of false information.
Platform Trust: proactive measures to address misinformation can enhance user trust in the TikTok platform.

How Footnotes Compare to X’s (Twitter’s) Community Notes

TikTok’s Footnotes feature is undeniably inspired by Twitter’s Community Notes,but there are key differences in their implementation:

Feature	TikTok Footnotes	X (Twitter) Community Notes
Platform	tiktok (Video-centric)	X (Text-centric)
Content Focus	Primarily video-based misinformation	Tweets and other text-based content
Content Style	Curated,visible to all viewers	Ranked by helpfulness,sometimes hidden
Contributor Selection	vetted experts & contributors	Based on a specific points system
Note Visibility	Prominently displayed beneath suspect videos	Can be hidden if deemed not helpful

While both features aim to combat misinformation,TikTok’s Footnotes appear to be more curated and prominently displayed. Twitter’s Community Notes rely more heavily on a crowdsourced ranking system, which can sometimes result in helpful notes being buried.

The Potential Challenges of TikTok Footnotes

Despite its potential benefits, the Footnotes feature also faces several challenges:

Scalability: With millions of videos uploaded to TikTok every day, it might potentially be difficult to effectively moderate and annotate all potentially misleading content.
Bias and Manipulation: The selection of contributors and the evaluation of footnotes could be susceptible to bias or manipulation.
Misinformation Tactics: Those spreading misinformation may adapt their tactics to circumvent the Footnotes system.
User Acceptance: some users may resist the introduction of fact-checking to their favorite platform.
Speed: Information and misinformation spreads at an amazing pace on tiktok. Footnotes need to be quick to implement to have an impact.

Practical Tips for Using and Contributing to TikTok Footnotes

For users:

Be Skeptical: Don’t automatically believe everything you see on TikTok. Always question the source and validity of the information.
Look for Footnotes: Pay attention to any footnotes displayed beneath videos. Read them carefully and consider the information they provide.
Check the Sources: If a footnote cites external sources, take the time to verify the information on those sources.
Provide Feedback: Rate the helpfulness of the Footnotes you encounter. Your feedback helps improve the system.
Report Misinformation: If you see a video that you believe contains misinformation, report it to TikTok.

For Contributors:

Be Accurate: Ensure that all the information you provide in your footnotes is factually accurate and supported by credible sources.
Be Neutral: Avoid expressing personal opinions or biases in your footnotes. Present the information objectively.
be Clear and Concise: Write in clear and concise language that is easily understood by a broad audience.
Cite Your Sources: Always cite your sources to support your claims.
Adhere to community Guidelines: Follow tiktok’s community guidelines when creating and submitting footnotes.

The Future of Fact-checking on TikTok and Beyond

TikTok’s Footnotes feature represents a significant step towards combating misinformation on the platform. If successful, it could serve as a model for other social media companies looking to address the same challenges. The future of fact-checking on social media will likely involve a combination of automated tools, human moderation, and community-based initiatives.

The platform’s initiative also underscores the importance of media literacy education. Empowering individuals with the skills to critically evaluate information and identify misinformation is crucial in the fight against false narratives.

TikTok to launch its own Community Notes-style fact-checking feature: Footnotes