TikTok is rolling out a new feature called Footnotes that lets users add more context to videos—similar to X’s Community Notes. The system allows contributors to write notes and rate others’ contributions. Notes marked as “helpful” by the community will be publicly shown.
Footnotes is built on X’s open-source model but uses a bridge-based ranking system instead of engagement metrics. TikTok says the aim is to help users with differing viewpoints better understand each other. A study shared with the announcement supports this goal.
Unlike Meta, TikTok isn’t dropping fact-checkers. The platform will continue to work with over 20 IFCN-accredited organizations to monitor misinformation, with Footnotes as an added layer. TikTok has faced criticism in the past over false content on the app.
The feature is not yet live, and its appearance in the app is unclear. TikTok plans to begin testing Footnotes in the U.S. in the coming months.
To become a contributor, users must be at least 18 years old, have had an account for over six months, and maintain a clean record with TikTok’s community guidelines. Applications are open now.
This rollout comes as TikTok faces renewed pressure in the U.S. President Trump has given the platform a 75-day window to find a buyer, with reported interest from Oracle, Perplexity AI, Amazon, and others.
