TikTok Begins Testing “Footnotes” Similar To Meta And X's Community Notes On The App
TikTok is rolling out a new feature called “Footnotes,” a crowd-sourced tool designed to add extra context and relevant info to videos, similar to Community Notes on X and Meta’s platforms. The feature is currently being tested in the U.S., giving users the chance to apply as contributors if they are over 18, have had an account on the app for more than six months, and have no recent history of violating TikTok’s community guidelines.
TikTok says Footnotes will help users “understand the reliability of content” by using a ranking system that highlights notes seen as “helpful” by people with different opinions. Once a footnote reaches that threshold, the broader community gets to weigh in, too. According to the company, this system should become smarter and more accurate over time as more users participate.
The new feature arrives as TikTok faces pressure over misinformation and fights to secure its future in the U.S. following government demands for its Chinese parent, ByteDance, to sell the app. As TikTok puts it, Footnotes will “add to our suite of measures that help people understand the reliability of content and access authoritative sources.”
