Meta announced a major shift in its content verification strategy today, officially ending its long-running fact-checking program across Facebook, Instagram, and Threads platforms in the United States. The company is replacing professional fact-checkers with a crowdsourced system called Community Notes, following a similar model to that used on X (formerly Twitter).
Joel Kaplan, Meta's policy chief, confirmed the termination of the fact-checking program, which had been in place since 2016. The announcement marks the end of new fact checks and the departure of dedicated fact-checkers from the platform.
The new Community Notes system will allow users to add context and corrections to potentially misleading or inaccurate posts. These notes, limited to 500 words, will appear beneath posts marked as "Readers added context" and must include links to trusted sources.
To maintain quality control, Meta has established specific criteria for Community Notes contributors. Eligible participants must be U.S.-based adults over 18, have accounts older than six months in good standing, and use verified phone numbers or two-factor authentication.
The platform's algorithm will evaluate notes based on user ratings, with publication depending on consensus among users who historically have different rating patterns. This approach aims to reduce potential bias in content verification.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg previously expressed concerns about political bias in third-party fact-checking, stating that the system had eroded more trust than it built. The transition to Community Notes is designed to incorporate diverse perspectives in the verification process.
While the change is currently limited to the United States, questions remain about international implementation, particularly in regions where regulatory bodies have expressed reservations about the new approach. The European Union and several other countries have raised concerns about the shift from professional fact-checking to community-based verification.
This change represents one of Meta's most substantial policy shifts in recent years, coinciding with other platform modifications including the removal of certain content restrictions and the discontinuation of diversity, equity, and inclusion programs.