Meta Fact Checking Update: What’s Changing on Facebook?
Meta’s fact-checking update has raised questions about misinformation and non-partisanship. Learn more about how social media content will be impacted below!
Meta’s fact-checking program was introduced in 2016 to combat misinformation online. It was a response to criticism Facebook received for spreading fake news during the crucial U.S. presidential election that year. Certified non-partisan third parties, approved by the International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN), were responsible for evaluating the accuracy of online content. Content was classified as “False, Altered, Partly false, Missing context, Satire, and True” based on these reviews. By 2023, the fact-checking system had expanded to include nearly 100 organizations operating in over 60 languages worldwide.
On January 7, 2025, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced a major update that will replace Meta’s fact-checking system with “Community Notes.” Zuckerberg took inspiration from Elon Musk’s approach to social media regulation, emphasizing community involvement in monitoring content.
The decision to make this change was influenced by the 2024 U.S. presidential election. Zuckerberg expressed his belief that the cultural landscape has shifted towards prioritizing free speech once again. He criticized fact-checkers for being politically biased and undermining trust, particularly in the U.S.
As a result of this update, Facebook and Instagram will see changes in the types of content allowed to be shared, including discussions on gender and immigration. Users will now have the opportunity to contribute to the conversation by rating content, requesting more information, and identifying misleading posts. To ensure a balanced perspective, diverse users must agree on the rating of content.
With these updates, Meta is taking a new approach to combat misinformation and promote community involvement in content moderation. Stay tuned for more developments in how social media platforms handle fact-checking in the future.
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