Twitter, now known as X, has introduced a new feature called Community Notes, which allows users to provide context to posts and tweets through crowd-sourced fact-checking. This feature, originally called Birdwatch, existed before Elon Musk acquired the company but has now been rebranded and given content moderation responsibilities to the X community.
Opinions on Community Notes are mixed, with some users embracing it and others remaining skeptical. However, X heavily relies on this feature for content moderation. In a letter to the EU, X CEO Linda Yaccarino emphasized that a significant portion of the platform’s content moderation is carried out by users actively engaging in Community Notes.
For X users interested in joining the program, Mashable provides a step-by-step guide on how to sign up for Community Notes.
Before signing up, it is important to ensure that your X account meets the eligibility criteria for the Community Notes program. These criteria include adhering to X’s platform rules, being an X user for at least six months, and linking your account to a verified phone number from a trusted carrier.
Once you meet the eligibility requirements, you can proceed to sign up for the Community Notes program. During the sign-up process, make sure to review and accept the terms of Community Notes.
After signing up, the approval process is in X’s hands, and the waiting period for acceptance can vary. Some users experience short waits, while others may have to wait several weeks. On average, the waiting period seems to be around two weeks.
Once your participation in the Community Notes program is approved, you will receive a notification confirming your acceptance. You will also notice the Community Notes tab on the left-hand side menu of your X interface.
As a participant in the program, Community Notes will prompt you to choose a randomly generated username for your submissions. These usernames maintain anonymity and link your contributions to your account.
Initially, your role is to rate existing Community Notes. If a post has no notes, there is nothing you can do at this stage. However, after rating a sufficient number of existing Community Notes and accumulating enough ratings, you can start submitting your own original notes, even for posts without any existing notes.
Joining the X Community Notes program gives you the opportunity to actively shape the content on the platform and contribute to its integrity. Whether you are a supporter or a skeptic, your involvement can make a difference in the X community.
In addition, X has been testing a “verified only” feed, a feature originally from Meta’s Instagram, according to a report by Firstpost.
In conclusion, with the introduction of the Community Notes feature and ongoing testing of new features, X is continuously working to improve its platform and engage its user community.
