Social media giant Meta is replacing its fact-checking program with a user-driven “Community Notes” system, according to a Jan. 7 announcement. The move follows a model adopted by X, where users collectively identify and provide context to potentially misleading posts. The move has been recognized by the crypto community.
“We think this may be a better way to achieve our original purpose of providing people with information about the content they see — and in a way that is less prone to bias,” the platform added.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said the change is intended to simplify the company’s complex content moderation policies, which have previously led to over-censorship and errors. By giving different users the power to shape contextual information, Meta hopes to address bias while maintaining the free flow of ideas on its platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and Threads. Zuckerberg stressed that the shift fits with Meta’s broader goal of returning to its roots as a hub for free expression.
In addition to the launch of Community Notes, Meta plans to restore visibility of political content in users’ feeds, reversing an earlier decision to downplay such content. Restrictions on sensitive topics such as immigration and gender will also be relaxed to accommodate a wider range of discussions.