Threads, the social media platform owned by Meta, is developing a new community notes feature that takes inspiration from X (previously known as Twitter), with plans for a forthcoming rollout. This announcement came from Meta’s CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, who indicated that the feature would replace the traditional fact-checking teams currently in place across Facebook, Instagram, and Threads. Recently, Threads introduced a capability that enables users to share photos and videos from other users’ posts without the need to quote the original content. Additionally, the app is also testing a feature that allows users to schedule posts.
Community Notes Feature Unveiled on Threads
The community notes feature was recently highlighted by developer Alessandro Paluzzi (@alex193a) in a Threads post. It is currently accessible to select iOS users, with the unique aspect that contributions made through the feature will be anonymous. Zuckerberg has previously expressed that this initiative would take the place of the company’s ongoing fact-checking efforts, initially focusing on the United States. However, a timeline for broader availability to all users remains unspecified.
The company shared an image of a support article detailing the Community Notes feature, which is designed to allow individuals from various viewpoints to comment on potentially misleading content or to add additional context. Users can submit notes if they find a post to be inaccurate or unclear, offering background information, explanations, or personal insights. Notes that receive positive ratings may be published, according to the company’s guidelines.
In a video message released last week, Zuckerberg addressed concerns regarding “too many mistakes and too much censorship,” advocating for a return to fundamental principles of free expression. He remarked on the upcoming 2024 US Presidential election, suggesting it represents a “cultural tipping point” that leans towards revitalizing the prioritization of free speech.
Moreover, Zuckerberg stated that Meta would cease its proactive scanning for hate speech, along with lifting restrictions on controversial topics such as immigration and gender, which he deemed disconnected from mainstream discourse. Content moderation would shift to a user-reporting model, which will mainly address “high-severity violations” including issues related to terrorism, child exploitation, scams, and drug-related content.
