Meta, no longer fact-checking, is experimenting with X-style user-generated notes
A gist of the tale:
Mark Zuckerberg and Meta have declared a shift, stepping away from the vigilance of truth and relying on users instead. This move comes with the introduction of Community Notes, a feature similar to X's, set to roll out across major social platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and Threads.
A quick peek at the origins:
This community-based fact-checking feature will initially focus on note writing and ranking, with a pilot test starting on March 18. Around 200,000 users have already signed up to join the contributor pool for Community Notes.
The selection process:
Users eligible for publishing notes must have a six-month-old Meta account in good standing, with a verified phone number and activated two-factor authentication. Once users are selected, they'll undergo a random selection process to join.
A nudge from Elon Musk:
Elon Musk has voiced his intentions to 'fix' the Community Notes on X after they clashed with him.
The ins and outs of Community Notes:
To hit the platform, a note must gain approval from users across various viewpoints, and even if many contributors agree, it will only be published if those with dissenting opinions deem it helpful. All notes are capped at 500 characters and must include a supporting link.
An insight into past performance:
Studies indicate that community notes can be effective in combating false information, as users on X have shown a willingness to retract false posts in response to notes. However, the system is not without its flaws, as it can easily become a breeding ground for meta-arguments, brigading, and gamification. A study by Maldita found that only 8.3% of proposed notes on X actually get published under a post.
The uphill battle:
Meta faces the challenge of balancing trustworthiness and scale, as the system must be able to handle the immense amount of content posted daily while avoiding turning users into unpaid labor. Whether this move is an economically driven decision or a genuine attempt to combat misinformation remains to be seen. Only time will tell if this experiment will lead to the truth or just more chaos.
- Mark Zuckerberg and Meta's new reliance on users for fact-checking is marked by the introduction of Community Notes, a feature similar to X's, which will primarily focus on note writing and ranking, even as it faces the potential for becoming a breeding ground for metainterpretations, brigading, and gamification.
- In an effort to combat misinformation, the Community Notes platform requires users to meet certain criteria: a six-month-old Meta account in good standing, a verified phone number, and activated two-factor authentication, before they can join the contributor pool.
- Elon Musk, seemingly dissatisfied with the Community Notes on X, has announced his intentions to 'fix' the feature, following a clash between the two figures.
- Despite its potential flaws, studies suggest that community notes can be effective in combating false information, as users have demonstrated a willingness to retract false posts in response to notes. However, Meta faces the challenge of balancing trustworthiness and scale, without turning users into unpaid labor, as they navigate this experiment into the future.
