Now Reading
Meta’s Community Notes Model: Implications for Content Moderation in Africa

Meta’s Community Notes Model: Implications for Content Moderation in Africa

Meta Community Notes

If Meta follows X’s trend, we might see a content moderation system that allows social media users like us to disprove or substantiate a post with evidence. However, this decision comes with a fair number of risks.

By Michael Akuchie

On January 7, 2025, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced in a video that the company would replace its current fact-checking programme with a Community Notes system, similar to the one used by X for content moderation.

According to Zuckerberg, the United States will serve as the pilot country for this significant policy shift, with other countries to follow soon. While Africa is unlikely to be impacted by this development in the immediate future, it is worth speculating on how the change could affect the region. 

For context, Meta has been using a third-party fact-checking system to combat misinformation across its three social media platforms: WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram.

Rather than directly reviewing and managing misleading posts, the company partnered with over 90 independent fact-checkers proficient in more than 60 languages to address the spread of hoaxes that, if left unchecked, could incite fear, hatred, and other negative emotions among social media users. 

It is worth noting that while Meta’s independent fact-checkers can review posts flagged as potentially false through keyword detection technology, only Meta retains the authority to remove content such as videos, images, accounts, and pages found to be in violation of its community standards. 

It is also worth knowing that Meta’s Community Standards and fact-checking system are two entirely distinct safeguards.

Meta Community Notes
Meta. Credit: Daily Maverick

When a post is determined to contain false information, Meta takes action by reducing the post’s reach, thereby limiting its exposure to a wider audience. The company notifies users who shared the content about its misleading nature. In some cases, a warning label is added to the post, accompanied by a link to the fact-checker’s article, which debunks the claim and provides the original reporting for context. 

Consider this example of several misleading posts circulating on social media platforms, including Facebook, claiming that X CEO Elon Musk banned Stephen King’s X account for trolling him online.

With Meta’s upcoming switch to a Community Notes-style content moderation system, here’s an explanation of what this could entail.

Although Zuckerberg did not provide specific details about how his company plans to implement the new model, it is reasonable to assume that it will resemble the system currently used by X. X has democratised fact-checking, enabling social media users to verify whether a post on a sensitive topic is true or false.

Although the model is open to the public, users seeking to be contributors to Community Notes must apply and be approved by X before they can begin contributing. What’s more, approved contributors get to use aliases to hide their identities plus their performance is judged by a Rating Impact system which allows other contributors to rate how helpful a Community Note is. 

Some anticipated benefits include empowering social media users to assist with content verification, particularly in an era dominated by misinformation. If effectively implemented, Community Notes could enable quicker responses to false claims, thereby reducing the number of users misled by such content.

Should Meta adopt X’s approach, we could see a content moderation system that allows social media users to disprove or validate posts with evidence. However, this decision is not without significant risks. For this article, these potential drawbacks will be confined to the African region. 

Community Notes on X
Community Notes on X. Credit: Community Notes

Elections in Africa have a penchant for violence, rigging, and other vices. Despite receiving N313.4 billion to ensure the smooth conduct of Nigeria’s most recent presidential elections in 2023, the exercise was greatly marred by reports of rigging, voter intimidation, and violence in certain regions of the West African country. 

Most importantly, the Internet was awash with old footage and misleading claims during the election season. One video of people thumbprinting ballot papers, before voting commenced, was discovered to have occurred in the 2019 elections.

Another viral video, shared by politician and senator Adamu Garba with the caption, “How the votes went in some South Eastern units”, was also debunked. The video was found to depict a voter sensitisation exercise organised by Labour Party agents, rather than party agents instructing voters to support a specific candidate. 

Using reverse-image search tools, the BBC confirmed that the ballot papers in the video were dummies and bore the “Specimen” tag—a mark not present on the official ballot papers issued by INEC.

Given that election seasons are highly charged periods in Nigeria and many other African countries, people often turn to social media for updates, as these are frequently accompanied by images and videos. However, this increased reliance on social media for information has also contributed to a surge in misinformation across platforms such as X and Facebook.

With Meta’s fact-checking model set to be replaced by Community Notes, an important question arises: how credible will the notes contributed by social media users be? 

See Also
Identity management

Loyalists of one party could disprove a claim made by supporters of another party, while it is equally possible for loyalists to validate a false claim made by their own party’s supporters. 

In the absence of the expert oversight provided by independent fact-checkers, there is no guarantee that Community Notes will be reliable. This could lead many users to question the credibility of future social media posts, especially if incidents similar to the aforementioned examples occur.

Additionally, false politically-themed posts that are backed by Community Notes may cause tension that may break the online wall and spill into the streets. After all, Nigeria’s historic End SARS protests began on the streets after the #EndSARS movement gained traction online.

Besides, African governments are not exactly champions of social media democracy, especially as there has been increased reports of internet restrictions and shutdowns in many countries including Nigeria, Gabon, and Mozambique. 

Meta can tackle the likely issues mentioned above to balance Community Notes with some kind of external oversight. Although the independent fact-checking model is soon to be retired, the company could establish an in-house fact-checking team to collaborate with Community Notes contributors, ensuring that false claims are promptly debunked before they escalate and create tension among users.

Meta
Meta. Credit: Behance

The rise of AI has been largely celebrated for its ability to simplify tasks, and Meta could leverage AI-powered tools to help flag misinformation within Community Notes. This approach would enhance the accuracy and integrity of contributors’ input, minimising the risk of deceit.

Additionally, Meta could introduce clear guidelines to steer Community Notes contributors towards objective, fact-based moderation, helping them avoid personal biases. 

Meta’s decision to replace its existing fact-checking model with a community-led approach appears to be an earnest effort to democratise access to content verification. If executed effectively, it could empower users to swiftly disprove misleading posts.

However, Meta must approach this transition with caution, as humans have a tendency to reshape the truth to align with their personal beliefs. Implementing safeguards such as AI tools and establishing an in-house support team will be crucial in guiding the Community Notes system toward its intended goal of enabling free and authentic expression.

Michael Akuchie is a tech journalist with five years of experience covering cybersecurity, AI, automotive trends, and startups. He reads human-angle stories in his spare time. He’s on X (fka Twitter) as @Michael_Akuchie & michael_akuchie on Instagram.

What's Your Reaction?
Excited
1
Happy
0
In Love
0
Not Sure
0
Silly
0

© 2024 Afrocritik.com. All Rights Reserved.

Scroll To Top