TikTok launches 'Footnotes,' a collaborative system to combat misinformation in the United States
The platform explains that its new tool will work on the model of "contextual notes" from the social network X. But many researchers are already questioning its real effectiveness.
On Wednesday, July 30, the social network TikTok launched a collaborative system for its American users to combat disinformation, through which users can share their doubts about the veracity of content. Users will be able to contextualize videos shared on the application using "Footnotes," notes added directly by users, a system already used by the Meta group and X, among others.
“Footnotes leverages the collective knowledge of the TikTok community, allowing users to add relevant information to content on our platform,” said Adam Presser, the social network’s chief security officer. To post these notes, users must have a verified account that has been active for at least six months and be based in the United States. More than 170 million accounts are listed in the country, but according to the platform, only about 80,000 users were selected to post these notes.
Skip the adThe app claims the feature will strengthen the fight against misinformation, similar to the social network X. But many researchers question its real effectiveness in the face of the flood of misinformation that pours onto social networks every day. A recent study revealed that more than 90% of contextual notes written on X were never published, thus limiting their impact on users. Social networks are increasingly relying on direct contributions from individuals, to the detriment of professional fact-checkers.
Meta eliminated its fact-checking program in the United States in April, which included AFP, and relaxed moderation on its platforms, with its boss Mark Zuckerberg believing that these policies led to "too much censorship." The move was widely criticized by professionals fighting disinformation. It is also seen as a way to align with the policies of Donald Trump, whose base believes that fact-checking on platforms constitutes an attack on freedom of expression.
As an alternative, Mark Zuckerberg launched collaborative notes on the Facebook and Instagram apps. These can be effective for topics on which there is broad consensus, but, according to researchers, they can also be used to, for example, criticize a political opponent.
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