TikTok is testing a new feature called Footnotes, a community-driven tool designed to add context to videos and combat misinformation. This crowdsourced fact-checking tool draws from the “collective knowledge of the TikTok community.”
The platform is following a different path than Meta and X, which have leaned more heavily on user-led content moderation. TikTok is still working with over 20 fact-checking organizations worldwide, all accredited by the International Fact-Checking Network.
How the tool works
To contribute contextual notes to videos, Footnotes requires eligible users to be over 18, active for at least six months and with no recent guideline violations. The notes are then evaluated through a bridge-based voting system, promoting those supported by users with differing viewpoints.
“Footnotes offers a new opportunity for people to share their expertise and add an additional layer of context to the discussion using a consensus-driven approach,” said Adam Presser, TikTok’s Head of Operations and Trust and Safety.
Why TikTok isn’t ditching professional fact-checkers
TikTok’s sticking with its fact-checkers, even as other platforms scale back. Instead of replacing them with Footnotes, TikTok is layering the two approaches. The result is a hybrid moderation system: Users can add value in real time, but professionals still make high-stakes calls.
This helps TikTok balance trust and transparency. Community-sourced moderation can be faster and more scalable. But it also risks being gamed or flooded with low-quality input. The backup from expert organizations ensures there’s still a line of defense when misinformation gets out of control.
This hybrid approach aims to enhance content reliability while maintaining professional oversight. The rollout comes amid heightened scrutiny of TikTok’s operations in the U.S., as its Chinese parent company faces a divestiture deadline tied to national security concerns.
Image asset courtesy: TikTok