TikTok has launched a new user-submitted fact-checking feature called Footnotes in the U.S., designed to add context to videos by leveraging the collective knowledge of its community. This feature allows qualified users to write and rate footnotes that provide additional information, such as expert views or updated statistics, to enhance understanding of video content.
What Are Footnotes?
Footnotes provide written context to videos, offering insights like a researcher's perspective on STEM topics or new data that broadens the understanding of an issue.
Contributors and Eligibility
Nearly 80,000 U.S. users currently qualify to contribute Footnotes. Eligibility requires users to be in the U.S., have an account older than six months, and no recent Community Guidelines violations. More users can apply to join, with the contributor base expected to grow.
How Footnotes Work for Users
Footnotes operate on a bridging-based system that seeks consensus among users with differing opinions. Footnotes deemed helpful by contributors will appear on videos, and the U.S. community can also rate these notes. Initially, it may take time for footnotes to become visible as users familiarize themselves with the feature. The system will improve over time with more contributions and ratings, shortening the delay between creation and visibility.
Maintaining Usefulness and Relevance
Footnotes must comply with TikTok’s Community Guidelines. Moderation will combine automated tools and human review to detect and remove inappropriate footnotes. Users can report footnotes that violate rules, ensuring the feature enhances the TikTok experience responsibly.
Commitment to Platform Integrity
Footnotes complement TikTok’s existing integrity measures, including content labels, search banners, and a global fact-checking program. TikTok will continue investing in content moderation and media literacy initiatives to combat misinformation and help users distinguish fact from fiction.
