Social media giant Meta is replacing its fact-checking program with a user-driven “Community Notes” system, according to a Jan. 7 statement.
This move follows the model adopted by X (formerly Twitter), where users collectively identify and provide context for potentially misleading posts.
The platform added:
“We think this could be a better way of achieving our original intention of providing people with information about what they’re seeing – and one that’s less prone to bias.”
Community notes
According to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, the change aims to simplify the company’s complex content moderation policies, which have previously led to excessive censorship and errors.
By empowering diverse users to shape contextual information, Meta hopes to address bias concerns while maintaining a free flow of ideas across its platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and Threads.
Zuckerberg emphasized that the shift aligns with Meta’s broader goal of returning to its roots as a hub for free expression.
In addition to rolling out Community Notes, Meta plans to restore the visibility of political content in user feeds, reversing earlier decisions to downplay such content. Restrictions on sensitive topics like immigration and gender will also be relaxed to accommodate broader discourse.
To maintain focus on critical issues, Meta will adjust its filters to prioritize severe policy violations, such as terrorism, child exploitation, drug trafficking, and fraud. Moreover, the company will relocate its content review team from California to Texas to foster trust in its moderation processes.
Crypto community backs Meta
The crypto community has largely supported Meta’s pivot toward decentralized content moderation.
Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong described the move as “huge,” noting its potential to enhance transparency and fairness. He stated:
“Huge – nature is healing.”
Meanwhile, Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin had previously highlighted parallels between Community Notes and the ethos of blockchain technology.
He noted that both systems emphasize decentralization, transparency, and community participation, reflecting values central to the crypto ecosystem.
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