April 5, 2025 – Meta is entering a new era of content moderation. On Monday, April 7, 2025, the company will officially terminate its third-party fact-checking program in the U.S. across Facebook, Instagram, and Threads, replacing it with a Community Notes system inspired by X. The move, announced in January, has raised concerns about the spread of misinformation as Meta prioritizes free expression.
Since 2016, Meta’s fact-checking program has worked with over 90 organizations, including PolitiFact and FactCheck.org, to flag and reduce the visibility of false content in more than 60 languages. The program played a key role in curbing misinformation during the 2020 U.S. election and the COVID-19 pandemic, as noted in a report on its impact. However, Meta’s chief global affairs officer, Joel Kaplan, stated on X, “By Monday afternoon, our fact-checking program in the US will be officially over. In place of fact checks, the first Community Notes will start appearing gradually,” as quoted in a summary of the change.
The Community Notes system, modeled after X’s approach, allows users to add context to potentially misleading posts, with notes rated by the community and displayed if deemed helpful by an algorithm, as detailed in a breakdown of the new system. Meta’s decision follows criticism from conservatives, who argue that fact-checking censored their views, a sentiment shared by President Trump, who has pushed for less online moderation, according to a report on the policy shift. The timing coincides with Trump’s inauguration, which Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg attended after donating $1 million, as highlighted in a discussion on Meta’s motivations.
In the U.S., where 68% of adults use Instagram, per a 2024 Pew Research survey, the shift to Community Notes has sparked debate, particularly in tech hubs like San Francisco and Seattle, where users rely on social media for news and information. Critics worry that the system may be slow to address misinformation, potentially allowing false content to spread, as noted in a report on social media trends. The change reflects broader tech policy debates, such as the U.S. ban on DeepSeek AI over security concerns, and aligns with trends in user-driven tech, like smart tech ecosystems, which emphasize user engagement.
Meta’s move to Community Notes aims to scale content moderation and reduce perceived bias, but it also risks amplifying misinformation on divisive topics like immigration and gender identity, which Meta has relaxed restrictions on. As the company navigates this “post-truth” era, the effectiveness of Community Notes will be closely watched. For more on tech and policy trends, explore our coverage of decentralized apps and stay updated with Technocodex.
