**Meta’s Change in Content Moderation Ignites Discussion on Community Notes**

“Mark, Meta, welcome to the celebration,” joked X CEO Linda Yaccarino in reaction to Meta’s Tuesday announcement about replacing its conventional fact-checking system with Community Notes. Yaccarino’s comments were made during a keynote interview with journalist Catherine Herridge at CES 2025, where the discussion focused on Meta’s shift towards user-driven content moderation.

When queried about this transition, Yaccarino characterized Community Notes as a “global collective consciousness” that holds users responsible on a grand scale and in real-time. “It couldn’t be more affirming than to see that Mark and Meta acknowledged this,” she mentioned, referencing Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg.

Yaccarino commended the feature, labeling it “the most efficient, quickest fact-checking, free from bias.” She also noted its behavioral influence, pointing out that posts marked with Community Notes see significantly reduced sharing. “That’s the strength of Community Notes,” she remarked, inviting Meta and Zuckerberg to what she referred to as the “proverbial celebration.”

### The Truth About Community Notes

While Yaccarino portrayed Community Notes as a triumph for X, evidence indicates otherwise. A 2023 investigation by *Mashable* unveiled that posts containing accurate Community Notes frequently reached only a small segment of users. Likewise, a 2024 report from the Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH) revealed that 74% of correct Community Notes related to U.S. election misinformation were never displayed to users. The report also underscored that posts advancing false narratives about U.S. politics, which did not feature Community Notes, attracted 13 times more views than their fact-checked equivalents.

These insights imply that, although Community Notes may present an intriguing idea, its execution has not successfully mitigated the spread of misinformation on X. In reality, harmful content persists, often surpassing the visibility of verified information.

### Doubts Regarding Meta’s Transition

Yaccarino expressed excitement over Meta’s integration of Community Notes, but detractors are far less hopeful. Organizations like CCDH, Free Press, and the Real Facebook Oversight Board have criticized Meta’s choice to discontinue its fact-checking initiative. They claim this decision signifies a regression in content moderation practices and will intensify the circulation of misinformation and detrimental content.

“By forsaking its fact-checking system in favor of a discredited ‘community notes’ framework, Meta is accelerating the dissemination of unchecked online falsehoods,” stated CCDH founder and CEO Imran Ahmed. He cautioned that this shift could worsen the spread of hate speech, endanger public health, and threaten democracy and community welfare.

Ahmed condemned Meta for transferring the responsibility of spotting misinformation to users, asserting, “Meta is now suggesting it is your responsibility to recognize the falsehoods on its platforms, and it isn’t their issue if you are unable to distinguish between them.” He characterized the move as a withdrawal from accountability and a significant regression for online safety, transparency, and responsible platform governance. Ahmed further warned that the choice could have severe real-world ramifications, potentially harming individuals and communities.

### A Divisive Decision

While some celebrate Meta’s shift to Community Notes as a progression towards decentralized content moderation, others view it as a perilous relinquishment of responsibility. As the debate unfolds, the efficacy of this method in countering misinformation and creating a safer online atmosphere remains uncertain.

—

*UPDATE: Jan. 8, 2025, 7:00 p.m. UTC*
*This article has been amended to incorporate a statement from the Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH).*