Everything you need to know about Meta's new Community Notes.

      Meta announced in a blog post that it will soon start testing Community Notes, enabling users who have signed up to provide additional context to posts on Facebook, Instagram, and Threads. The Community Notes feature is similar to the one on X, formerly known as Twitter, but will function slightly differently.

      The social media giant introduced Community Notes back in January as a replacement for its third-party fact-checking program that has been operational since 2016. The company indicated that it would depend on users from all three platforms to identify misinformation in posts. However, the initial testing of the Community Notes feature will take place in the United States, with plans for gradual expansion to other regions over time.

      Here’s what you need to know about the Community Notes testing by Meta.

      When will testing begin?

      Meta will initiate testing of the Community Notes feature on March 18. To date, around 200,000 users across Facebook, Instagram, and Threads have joined the waitlist to become Community Notes contributors in the two months since the announcement. During the initial phase of the test, the company will randomly select users from the waitlist.

      To become a Community Notes contributor, you must be at least 18 years old, have an account that is over six months old and in good standing, meaning it hasn’t been reported or suspended for any violations. Participants must also reside in the U.S. to take part in the test.

      How will Community Notes function on Meta?

      The Community Notes system on Meta shares some similarities with X, as the company is adopting a broad approach and utilizing its open-source algorithm for the rating system. The key difference, according to Meta, is that “notes won’t be published unless contributors with a diverse range of viewpoints broadly agree on them.” In essence, if individuals who typically disagree on a subject agree that a note provides valuable context, it will be published.

      Each note you submit will have a limit of 500 characters, and you must include a link that supports it, as the linked source provides additional context to the post that may be confusing, misleading, or even harmful. After submitting your Community Notes, your name will not be associated with them. The emphasis will be on the context provided rather than the identity of the author when it comes to rating the notes. However, it is essential to use unbiased language that is easily understandable to others.

      The purpose of Community Notes is to facilitate dialogue between individuals with differing perspectives, enabling them to reach a consensus on various topics related to the posts they are commenting on, especially those deemed political. Meta asserts that this approach helps to mitigate bias and prevents organized efforts to sway the content of the notes that get published.

      Once the testing of Community Notes concludes, Meta plans to roll out the feature across the United States, although a specific date has yet to be disclosed. The feature will eventually be available in other countries, while the third-party fact-checking program will continue to operate in those areas in the interim.