TikTok has officially introduced Footnotes, a crowdsourced fact-checking system in the U.S. that mirrors similar tools like X’s Community Notes. The pilot program enables qualified users to submit and rate contextual notes on videos they believe contain misinformation, adding a new layer of transparency to the platform.
Initially rolled out in April for testing, Footnotes has now become publicly visible to U.S. viewers. Around 80,000 contributors – selected from users who have been active on TikTok for at least six months, are over 18, and have no recent violations of community rules – can write explanatory notes and participate in rating the helpfulness of others’ submissions. These viewers will see rated Footnotes under relevant videos.
The feature relies on a bridging algorithm, which tracks agreement across users with differing viewpoints. When individuals from across the ideological spectrum rate a Footnote as helpful, it’s more likely to be surfaced, helping guard against coordinated misinformation efforts. The company continues to work with over 20 International Fact-Checking Network-accredited partners across more than 60 languages and 130 markets. Footnotes is intended to complement – not replace – its existing professional fact‑checking infrastructure.
Critics emphasize that for Footnotes to be effective, speed and trust in source reliability will be essential. Public-facing fact-checking systems must act quickly to counter viral misinformation, and their credibility hinges on high standards for note authorship and evaluation. If handled in the same way as X’s community notes, and with the same efforts put in place to prevent mass manipulation by bot accounts, Footnotes could become a key part of cracking down on misinformation and misleading videos across TikTok.
