Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and Threads, is set to test a new Community Notes system in the United States starting March 18, 2025. This marks a major shift from its long-standing reliance on third-party fact-checking organizations, which the company discontinued amid conservative pressure. Meta describes the initiative as a community-driven solution designed to reduce bias while combating misinformation across its platforms.

The overhaul follows Meta’s January decision to end its third-party fact-checking program, established in 2016 after criticisms regarding misinformation during the 2016 U.S. presidential election. CEO Mark Zuckerberg cited a “cultural tipping point” favoring free speech, influenced in part by former President Donald Trump’s 2024 election win. Trump, a vocal critic of social media companies for allegedly suppressing conservative voices, had previously praised Meta’s initial moves. The company has also sought to strengthen ties with the incoming Trump administration, including a $1 million donation to his inauguration fund and board appointments for Trump allies like Dana White.

Community Notes will allow users to write and rate short notes, limited to 500 characters, to flag misleading content. Unlike the prior model, which relied on nearly 100 certified fact-checking organizations, moderation responsibility will now lie with the user base. Over 200,000 U.S. users have already registered as potential contributors. Eligibility requires participants to be over 18 and include a supporting link. The system will initially support six languages, including English, Spanish, and French.

The feature draws heavily from X’s Community Notes, revamped from its 2022 Birdwatch system, and will use X’s open-source algorithm for ratings. On X, the feature has been praised as a collaborative tool for adding context or debunking false claims. Notes will remain anonymous and only be published if a consensus from contributors with diverse perspectives deems them helpful. Joel Kaplan, Meta’s head of global policy, said the system “empowers our community to decide what needs context,” claiming it will be less biased than the previous fact-checking approach.

Once Community Notes are fully operational in the U.S., third-party fact-check labels will be removed, though the program will continue globally. Meta’s decision has drawn mixed reactions. Supporters view it as a way to decentralize information control, while critics worry it may amplify misinformation without the penalties associated with traditional fact-checking. Zuckerberg acknowledged that the trade-off could result in “catching less bad stuff” while reducing accidental takedowns of innocent posts.

The move has reignited debate over community-based moderation. Studies on X’s system show mixed results: while it has curbed certain falsehoods, such as COVID-19 vaccine misinformation, it struggles with larger conspiracy theories due to reliance on unpaid volunteers. Experts warn that Meta’s massive user base and algorithmic amplification could complicate scalability and effectiveness. As the company rolls out Community Notes, it is betting on a hands-off approach to content moderation amid intense political and public scrutiny.