Meta to launch Community Notes testing on Facebook and Instagram on March 18

Meta to launch Community Notes testing on Facebook and Instagram on March 18

On Thursday, March 13, 2025, Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and Threads, announced the start of testing for its new “Community Notes” feature, set to replace traditional fact-checking on its platforms beginning March 18. Unveiled by CEO Mark Zuckerberg in January, this shift represents a significant change in how the company addresses misinformation, empowering users to add contextual notes to various content. With around 200,000 potential contributors already signed up in the United States, the system will roll out gradually through a testing phase to evaluate its effectiveness before a global launch. The move comes as Meta scales back diversity initiatives and relaxes content moderation rules, sparking discussions about the implications for online safety.

The Community Notes testing follows years of criticism, particularly from conservative groups in the U.S., who claimed that fact-checking suppressed their voices under the guise of combating fake news. Unlike the previous model, which relied on professional fact-checkers and often reduced the visibility of flagged posts, this new approach won’t penalize annotated content. Limited to 500 characters and supported by links, the notes will only appear when contributors with diverse viewpoints agree on their usefulness, drawing inspiration from the Community Notes system on Elon Musk’s X platform. During the initial phase, notes won’t show up immediately, allowing Meta to refine the algorithm and onboard more users from the waitlist.

This shift aligns with broader changes at Meta, including loosened moderation policies—especially on hostile speech—and a reduced focus on diversity efforts. Zuckerberg’s January announcement, paired with the appointment of a Republican as head of public policy, signals a nod to the Trump administration, which took office in 2025. While the U.S. kicks off the testing on March 18, the third-party fact-checking program will remain active in other countries until Community Notes is ready for a worldwide rollout, a transition that could reshape how billions of users engage with information on social media.

System inspired by X’s model

Meta is adopting a framework proven effective on X, where Community Notes lets users add context to posts. Leveraging X’s open-source algorithm, Meta avoids building a system from scratch. Eligible contributors must be over 18 and have accounts at least six months old in good standing, opening the door for anyone meeting these criteria to participate across Facebook, Instagram, and Threads.

Already, 200,000 people in the U.S. have signed up, showcasing strong user interest. Initially, the notes will support six widely spoken languages in the country: English, Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, French, and Portuguese. Meta aims to expand globally, but only after the testing phase confirms the system’s reliability.

Testing phase rules and rollout

Starting March 18, 2025, the testing phase will ensure Community Notes don’t appear instantly on posts. Meta will take a phased approach, gradually admitting waitlisted contributors and fine-tuning the system before full implementation. Notes will only go live when contributors with differing perspectives agree on their value, a safeguard against polarized opinions dominating the process. “These aren’t majority rules,” the company stressed, emphasizing a focus on diverse agreement.

Meta’s evolving moderation approach

The launch of Community Notes is part of a broader overhaul at Meta. Facing accusations of censoring conservative voices, particularly in the U.S., the company has softened its moderation stance, allowing certain types of hostile speech that were previously removed or restricted on Facebook and Instagram. This follows a noticeable reduction in diversity initiatives, once a cornerstone of Meta’s public image.

Zuckerberg’s pivot, announced in January 2025, included appointing a Republican-aligned head of public policy, a move seen as a gesture to the Trump administration and its ally, Elon Musk. By adopting a user-driven system like Community Notes, Meta is responding to these pressures while aligning with a trend toward less centralized control in social media moderation.

Timeline of Meta’s policy shifts

Meta’s approach to misinformation and moderation has evolved over time. Here’s a rundown of key milestones:

• 2020: Heightened fact-checking during the Covid-19 pandemic with third-party partnerships.
• 2023: Initial relaxation of moderation rules amid censorship backlash.
• January 2025: Zuckerberg unveils Community Notes and appoints a Republican policy chief.
• March 18, 2025: Community Notes testing begins in the U.S.

This timeline highlights Meta’s response to external pressures and shifting global politics.

Expected impact in the U.S.

With testing kicking off on March 18, the U.S. will be the first region to experience Community Notes on a large scale. Meta hopes the system will boost transparency and engagement, letting users contextualize information directly. Unlike traditional fact-checking, which often throttled post reach, this model avoids penalties, potentially increasing visibility for controversial content when paired with explanatory notes.

Supporting six languages—English, Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, French, and Portuguese—the feature targets the U.S.’s linguistic diversity. However, the 500-character limit may challenge contributors to keep notes concise and impactful.

Global concerns and criticism

Meta’s move to replace fact-checking with a collaborative system has sparked debate. In February 2025, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that rolling back verification and moderation safeguards could fuel online hate and violence. Critics fear that shifting responsibility to users might weaken control over harmful misinformation, especially in polarized climates.

In the U.S., some view the change as a concession to Trump and Musk’s influence, with relaxed rules on hostile speech already keeping content online that would have been removed before. The testing phase will be a proving ground for these concerns.

How Community Notes will work

The Community Notes system comes with specific mechanics shaping its use. Key features include:

• 500-character limit: Notes must be brief and include supporting links.
• Consensus required: Publication depends on agreement across diverse viewpoints.
• No penalties: Annotated posts won’t lose reach.
• Six initial languages: English, Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, French, and Portuguese.

These rules aim to balance free expression with accountability, though their scalability remains under scrutiny.

Future expansion and challenges

As testing progresses in the U.S., Meta plans to roll out Community Notes globally, though no timeline has been set. Until then, third-party fact-checking will continue elsewhere, creating a dual-system approach. Expanding to other regions will require adapting to varied cultural and political contexts, a process that could take significant time and refinement.

The U.S. testing will face a polarized environment, and global success will hinge on managing misinformation across diverse languages and regulations, a complex task for Meta’s ambitions.

A new direction for social media

The debut of Community Notes signals a turning point for Facebook, Instagram, and Threads, platforms with a combined reach of billions. By adopting a collaborative model inspired by X, Meta is shifting toward community-driven moderation over expert intervention. This reflects both political pressures and a market trend favoring less oversight.

With 200,000 volunteers ready in the U.S., the testing phase starting March 18, 2025, will be pivotal. Avoiding reach penalties could appeal to creators previously stifled, but it also raises questions about unchecked misinformation. As the experiment unfolds, it could redefine how social media platforms handle truth in the digital age.