Twitter, now known as X has a crowd-sourced fact-checking feature that allows users to give context to posts or tweets. The so-called Community Notes helps Elon Musk vision to improve the microblogging platform for everyone.
This feature, originally named Birdwatch, predates Musk's acquisition of the company, but he rebranded it and handed content moderation responsibilities to the X community through Community Notes.
Opinions on Community Notes vary; some users embrace it, while others remain skeptical. Nonetheless, X relies heavily on this feature.
In a letter to the EU, X CEO Linda Yaccarino emphasized that a significant portion of the platform's content moderation is executed by users actively engaging in Community Notes.
If you're an X user and wish to join this program, here's your step-by-step guide, as per Mashable.
Eligibility on Community Notes
Before diving in, ensure that your X account qualifies for the Community Notes program. According to X, your account must meet these criteria:
Rule Adherence: You should not have recently violated X's platform rules.
Six-Month Tenure: You must have been an X user for at least six months.
Verified Phone Number: Your account should be linked to a verified phone number from a trusted carrier.
How to Participate in X's Community NotesEdgar from Unsplash
Getting Started
If you meet these requirements, proceed to sign up for the Community Notes program. During the sign-up process, make sure to review and accept the terms of Community Notes.
Awaiting Approval
After a swift sign-up, the approval process lies in X's hands. The estimated waiting period for acceptance varies. Some users experience short waits, while others must exercise patience for several weeks. On average, the waiting period appears to be around two weeks.
Acceptance Notification
Once X approves your participation in the Community Notes program, you will receive a notification confirming your acceptance. Additionally, you will notice the Community Notes tab on the left-hand side menu of your X interface.
Taking Action
Now that you're part of the program, Community Notes will prompt you to choose a randomly generated username for your Community Notes submissions. These usernames are designed to maintain anonymity and solely link your contributions to your account. No need to spend excessive time selecting one.
Initially, your role is to rate existing Community Notes. If a post lacks notes, there's nothing you can do for it at this stage. However, after you've rated a sufficient number of existing Community Notes, and they accumulate enough ratings to go live, you can start submitting your original notes. This applies even to posts lacking any existing notes.
Joining the X Community Notes program provides you with the opportunity to actively shape the content on the platform and contribute to its integrity. Whether you're an ardent supporter or a skeptic, your involvement can make a difference in the world of X.
In another report by Firstpost, Musk's X appears to have started testing "verified only" feed, which is an original feature from Meta's Instagram.
