Community Notes, X, previously Twitter, was launched with a goal to decrease the multi-day delays in correcting disinformation on its platform in an effort to expedite its crowdsourced fact-checking system. However, so far, things were not as smooth as they should be when it comes to fact-checking posts on X. In response to these problems, X has implemented a series of modifications targeted at speeding up the fact-checking process and increasing user awareness of postings they have interacted with.
These initiatives follow X CEO Linda Yaccarino's pledge to make Community Notes more visible on the platform as soon as possible. The sheer volume of posts relating to Hamas-Israel conflict underlined the importance of these measures, with over 50 million such posts appearing in only a few days.
One of the most important updates is the addition of note previews, which are now available on both Android and web platforms, with iOS support on the way. These previews allow users to see how fact-checks will look before they are finished. This allows the community's feedback on these notes to speed up the process, ensuring that accurate and relevant information reaches the public as quickly as possible.
X has greatly increased its notification system in an effort to encourage safe sharing. Users who have interacted with a post that later receives a fact-check from a Community Note will now receive notifications. This tool is meant to encourage users to either edit their postings with more context or remove them entirely.
Another significant change is media matching, in which notes posted on images and videos will be displayed on a greater range of posts containing the same material. This enhancement has already increased the reach of fact-checks to almost 3,000 seats, and it is expected that this number will grow further as the same media is reused in new postings.
These changes for media matching, notifications, and note previews have been rolled out during the last 24 hours, according to X. Hundreds of additional fact-check notes have been published. The platform is constantly improving the media matching technology to improve its efficiency.
Nonetheless, a basic concern remains: will X's crowdsourced fact-checking mechanism be able to keep up with the millions of submissions about recent events? NBC News claimed that many fact-checks experienced multiple-day delays and that some fraudulent posts received hundreds of thousands of views with no accompanying fact-check annotations, despite X's claim of a "massive speed improvement" made just last week.
In light of these difficulties, X has made additional changes. The platform's public interest policy has been modified, changing the criterion for posts to be considered noteworthy and eliminating the prior threshold of at least 100,000 followers. X has also formed a relationship with @GIFCT_official to fight the spread of terrorist content on the network. This collaboration has resulted in action against tens of thousands of posts that include graphic media, aggressive remarks, and nasty behavior.
X CEO Linda Yaccarino withdrew from the WSJ Tech Live conference in the midst of these changes, claiming the need for her and her team to prioritize platform safety in the face of current global crises. However, given her recent heated participation at the Code conference, some have questioned the truth of her statement.
Elon Musk, argued for Community Notes as a superior alternative to Twitter's previous moderation efforts. In fact, he has gone so far as to ridicule these efforts in comparison. Musk lauds the notes system as a revolutionary solution that can significantly enhance accuracy on the platform. With his visionary insight, it's no wonder why many have taken notice and are exploring the potential benefits of this innovative approach.
Community Notes have taken on a more significant role under Musk's leadership, particularly when employee reductions have harmed trust and safety and moderation teams. Despite the hurdles, X remains committed to improving the user experience and promoting a safer and more credible information ecosystem.
Read next: Google Unveils New Privacy Superpowers
These initiatives follow X CEO Linda Yaccarino's pledge to make Community Notes more visible on the platform as soon as possible. The sheer volume of posts relating to Hamas-Israel conflict underlined the importance of these measures, with over 50 million such posts appearing in only a few days.
One of the most important updates is the addition of note previews, which are now available on both Android and web platforms, with iOS support on the way. These previews allow users to see how fact-checks will look before they are finished. This allows the community's feedback on these notes to speed up the process, ensuring that accurate and relevant information reaches the public as quickly as possible.
X has greatly increased its notification system in an effort to encourage safe sharing. Users who have interacted with a post that later receives a fact-check from a Community Note will now receive notifications. This tool is meant to encourage users to either edit their postings with more context or remove them entirely.
Another significant change is media matching, in which notes posted on images and videos will be displayed on a greater range of posts containing the same material. This enhancement has already increased the reach of fact-checks to almost 3,000 seats, and it is expected that this number will grow further as the same media is reused in new postings.
These changes for media matching, notifications, and note previews have been rolled out during the last 24 hours, according to X. Hundreds of additional fact-check notes have been published. The platform is constantly improving the media matching technology to improve its efficiency.
Nonetheless, a basic concern remains: will X's crowdsourced fact-checking mechanism be able to keep up with the millions of submissions about recent events? NBC News claimed that many fact-checks experienced multiple-day delays and that some fraudulent posts received hundreds of thousands of views with no accompanying fact-check annotations, despite X's claim of a "massive speed improvement" made just last week.
In light of these difficulties, X has made additional changes. The platform's public interest policy has been modified, changing the criterion for posts to be considered noteworthy and eliminating the prior threshold of at least 100,000 followers. X has also formed a relationship with @GIFCT_official to fight the spread of terrorist content on the network. This collaboration has resulted in action against tens of thousands of posts that include graphic media, aggressive remarks, and nasty behavior.
X CEO Linda Yaccarino withdrew from the WSJ Tech Live conference in the midst of these changes, claiming the need for her and her team to prioritize platform safety in the face of current global crises. However, given her recent heated participation at the Code conference, some have questioned the truth of her statement.
Elon Musk, argued for Community Notes as a superior alternative to Twitter's previous moderation efforts. In fact, he has gone so far as to ridicule these efforts in comparison. Musk lauds the notes system as a revolutionary solution that can significantly enhance accuracy on the platform. With his visionary insight, it's no wonder why many have taken notice and are exploring the potential benefits of this innovative approach.
Community Notes have taken on a more significant role under Musk's leadership, particularly when employee reductions have harmed trust and safety and moderation teams. Despite the hurdles, X remains committed to improving the user experience and promoting a safer and more credible information ecosystem.
Read next: Google Unveils New Privacy Superpowers
