​TikTok Introduces ‘Footnotes’ to Enhance Content Transparency

TikTok has launched a new feature called “Footnotes” in the United States, aiming to provide users with additional context on videos and combat misinformation.

The initiative allows users to contribute relevant information to content, similar to the “Community Notes” feature on X (formerly Twitter) and Meta’s recent endeavors in crowdsourced moderation.​

The Footnotes feature enables users to apply as contributors who can add contextual information to videos. To qualify, users must be at least 18 years old, have maintained an active TikTok account for over six months, and have no recent violations of community guidelines. Once approved, contributors can annotate videos with footnotes that provide additional insights or clarifications.​

These footnotes undergo a review process where other contributors assess their helpfulness. Only footnotes that reach a certain threshold of perceived usefulness become visible to the broader TikTok community, who can then vote on their relevance.

TikTok’s introduction of Footnotes comes in response to the growing concern over misinformation on social media platforms. By allowing users to add context to videos, TikTok aims to provide viewers with a more comprehensive understanding of the content they consume.

Footnotes complements TikTok’s existing measures to promote content integrity, including content labels, search banners, and partnerships with over 20 International Fact-Checking Network-accredited organizations.

TikTok plans to gradually roll out Footnotes to more users in the coming months, starting with short-form videos in the U.S. The company encourages eligible users to apply as contributors and participate in this initiative to foster a more informed and engaged community.​