TikTok is introducing Footnotes, its new approach to content “moderation” where users add additional context to posts.
At first glance it looks a lot like X’s Community Notes. But look closer and you’ll see it could become something entirely different.
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Footnotes allows creators to add clickable context to their videos. Think: sources, definitions, or even just “here’s what I meant.” When a viewer taps, they can see additional information the creator has chosen to share.
And yes, it’s basically TikTok giving people a way to preempt getting flamed in the comments.
But this isn’t about correcting misinformation (not directly, anyway). It’s about owning the narrative.
Creator-led credibility
Unlike Community Notes on X, which are community-sourced, sometimes brutally impartial, and often weaponized, TikTok Footnotes are entirely creator-driven. That’s a subtle but important shift: TikTok isn’t trying to fact-check people for you. It’s giving creators the ability to contextualize themselves, on their own terms.
That might sound like a loophole. But it could actually be smart. Because let’s be honest: in the age of edutainment, a lot of creators are out here stitching together half-truths, vibes, and viral soundbites. Adding some structure (even optional structure) could help build credibility with audiences that are increasingly skeptical, even if they’re still liking the content.
It’s also a signal that TikTok wants to stay ahead of growing regulatory pressure, especially as platforms are being held more accountable for the spread of misleading information.
Not fact-checking. Framing.
This isn’t about setting the record straight. It’s about framing the conversation and offering more signal in a feed that’s mostly noise.
And in a world where attention is currency, owning your context might be just as valuable as owning your content.
Oh, and TikTok said it will open access to start contributing footnotes in the coming months.
