TikTok's Community Notes era starts today

TikTok is launching Footnotes, a community-based fact-checking feature similar to X's Community Notes, initially in the US. Nearly 80,000 users have been vetted as contributors who can add notes to videos containing misinformation. These notes require source citations and must achieve consensus among contributors before appearing publicly. Footnotes will be prominently displayed below video captions, linking to source material. Unlike Meta, TikTok will continue collaborating with professional fact-checkers. The feature adheres to TikTok's content moderation policies and is reportable for violations. Footnote presence won't influence the For You feed algorithm. The US launch is a pilot program, with future international expansion contingent on its success. The rollout coincides with ongoing uncertainty regarding TikTok's US operations and potential regulatory actions. A US-owned TikTok entity remains under negotiation, with reports of a separate US-only app in development.