Meta replaces Fact-Checkers with X-inspired Community Notes

This policy reversal comes as Meta faces increasing pressure to strike a balance between protecting free expression and managing harmful content

Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has made a major shift in its content moderation strategy, announcing the end of its third-party fact-checking program in the United States. This change comes at a time when political and social dynamics are under scrutiny, with President-elect Donald Trump preparing for a second term. Meta's decision to replace the traditional fact-checking system with a community-driven model mirrors the approach seen on Elon Musk's social media platform, X.

Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, revealed that the company would phase out third-party fact-checkers in favour of a system that allows users to flag potentially misleading content and offer additional context. The shift towards a community-based model aims to reduce reliance on external organizations and place content oversight in the hands of users.

“We’re going to get rid of fact-checkers and replace them with community notes similar to X, starting in the US,” Zuckerberg stated. “There have been too many mistakes and too much censorship, so it’s time to return to our roots around free expression.” He also highlighted that the decision was influenced by the need to address mistakes in moderation and to create a more balanced approach to speech. According to Zuckerberg, the recent U.S. elections served as a "cultural tipping point," pushing the company to prioritize free speech and rethink content moderation.

As part of the new direction, Meta plans to lift certain restrictions on discussions surrounding sensitive issues such as immigration and gender identity. The company will still focus on enforcing high-severity violations, such as terrorism-related content and illegal drug trafficking, but will reduce its proactive efforts to police hate speech and other potentially rule-breaking content. This change reflects Meta’s aim to simplify its policies and reduce unnecessary content removal.

This policy reversal comes as Meta faces increasing pressure to strike a balance between protecting free expression and managing harmful content. The company’s new direction will likely lead to more user-generated content moderation, with some users expressing concerns about the potential for increased misinformation. As Meta transitions to this community-driven approach, it will be closely monitored as the company navigates this shift in the broader context of the evolving social media landscape.