Threads, Meta's microblogging service competing with X, seems to be shifting its focus away from political discourse while actively combatting the proliferation of misinformation, particularly surrounding 2024 elections.
Responding to some recent user feedback regarding fact-checking activities observed on Threads, the social media giant acknowledged its collaboration with fact-checking organizations to address the dissemination of false information on the platform. However, the direct implementation of fact-checking within Threads is still pending.
In December 2023, Meta had announced plans for its fact-checking partners to directly evaluate and rate misleading content on Threads by early 2024. Currently, Meta is only able to link existing fact-checks to similar content on Threads. Recent user reports indicate that rather than direct fact-checking, Threads displays matched ratings for misinformation, awaiting the full rollout of the intended fact-checking feature.
Acknowledging this interim phase, Meta informed TechCrunch that the direct rating capability for fact-checkers on Threads is yet to be finalized but assured its imminent arrival.
Threads users have observed warning labels appended to posts, such as an interstitial overlaying false AI-generated videos and a pop-up notification appearing at the screen's bottom. The warning explicitly identifies the content as "False Information" and explains its debunked status based on evaluations conducted elsewhere by fact-checkers. Additionally, the warning provides details about the fact-checking sources and their conclusive findings.
An exemplar fact-check on Threads addresses a circulating video in Telegram chats purportedly from a France 24 broadcast, which the fact-checking organizations confirm as AI-generated, never aired or produced.
While awaiting full fact-checking integration, Threads' warning system aims to differentiate it from X, where fact-checking largely relies on crowd participation. On X's Community Notes platform, independent volunteers fact-check and offer additional context or corrections, with the algorithm seeking consensus among diverse perspectives. Meanwhile, Meta's approach contrasts with X's as it refrains from proactively surfacing political content on Threads and Instagram.
Adam Mosseri, head of Instagram, previously announced Threads' intention to refrain from amplifying news content, aligning with Meta's cautious stance against misinformation. Despite these measures, news and political topics may still feature in Threads' "today's topics" trends section.
Meta's deliberate approach underscores its commitment to combat misinformation without compromising user experience or exacerbating political polarization.
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Responding to some recent user feedback regarding fact-checking activities observed on Threads, the social media giant acknowledged its collaboration with fact-checking organizations to address the dissemination of false information on the platform. However, the direct implementation of fact-checking within Threads is still pending.
In December 2023, Meta had announced plans for its fact-checking partners to directly evaluate and rate misleading content on Threads by early 2024. Currently, Meta is only able to link existing fact-checks to similar content on Threads. Recent user reports indicate that rather than direct fact-checking, Threads displays matched ratings for misinformation, awaiting the full rollout of the intended fact-checking feature.
Acknowledging this interim phase, Meta informed TechCrunch that the direct rating capability for fact-checkers on Threads is yet to be finalized but assured its imminent arrival.
Threads users have observed warning labels appended to posts, such as an interstitial overlaying false AI-generated videos and a pop-up notification appearing at the screen's bottom. The warning explicitly identifies the content as "False Information" and explains its debunked status based on evaluations conducted elsewhere by fact-checkers. Additionally, the warning provides details about the fact-checking sources and their conclusive findings.
An exemplar fact-check on Threads addresses a circulating video in Telegram chats purportedly from a France 24 broadcast, which the fact-checking organizations confirm as AI-generated, never aired or produced.
While awaiting full fact-checking integration, Threads' warning system aims to differentiate it from X, where fact-checking largely relies on crowd participation. On X's Community Notes platform, independent volunteers fact-check and offer additional context or corrections, with the algorithm seeking consensus among diverse perspectives. Meanwhile, Meta's approach contrasts with X's as it refrains from proactively surfacing political content on Threads and Instagram.
Adam Mosseri, head of Instagram, previously announced Threads' intention to refrain from amplifying news content, aligning with Meta's cautious stance against misinformation. Despite these measures, news and political topics may still feature in Threads' "today's topics" trends section.
Meta's deliberate approach underscores its commitment to combat misinformation without compromising user experience or exacerbating political polarization.
Read next: Google’s Search Liaison, Danny Sullivan, Clarifies What Use of AI for SEO on Website Means
