TikTok is rolling out a new feature called “Footnotes,” a community-driven moderation tool that allows contributors to add context and information to content on the platform. The feature is similar to Twitter’s Community Notes and is designed to provide additional information to users.
To become a Footnotes contributor, US users must meet certain criteria, including having been on TikTok for more than six months, being 18 or older, and not having violated any community guidelines in the previous six months. Eligible users can apply to become contributors starting today, and TikTok will also proactively notify users who meet the requirements.
The Footnotes system uses a “bridge-based ranking system” that identifies notes agreed upon by people with differing opinions. Contributors vote on the helpfulness of footnotes, and only those that meet a certain threshold become visible to the broader community. The more footnotes that are written and rated on different topics, the smarter and more effective the system becomes.
TikTok plans to initially test the Footnotes feature in the US for short-form videos and will expand access to contributors over the coming months. This move is part of a growing trend among social media platforms to adopt community-driven moderation strategies. Community-driven moderation originated on Twitter in 2021 as Birdwatch and has since spread to other platforms like YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and Threads.
TikTok claims that the new Footnotes feature “augments our existing suite of platform integrity measures and features.” By allowing contributors to add relevant information to content on the platform, TikTok aims to provide a more accurate and informative experience for users.
