X introduces experiment using Community Notes to identify popular posts
Elon Musk’s social media platform, X, is launching a pilot experiment that aims to use its Community Notes system to identify popular posts from users with differing opinions.
The trial, announced on Thursday via the Community Notes X account, will involve selected contributors rating posts based on why they like or dislike a particular post, with the goal of uncovering the content that resonates across varied perspectives.
The new system will build on the existing Community Notes fact-checking feature, which has been designed to combat misinformation by allowing users to agree on the accuracy of posts, regardless of their usual viewpoints.
Unlike traditional systems that rely on upvotes and downvotes, which could be manipulated by users with similar opinions, the Community Notes "bridging algorithm" seeks consensus between individuals who typically disagree.
Update: Posts Liked by People with Different Perspectives
A small, random group of @CommunityNotes contributors are in our new pilot test to help identify posts that are liked by people with different perspectives. Thank you for your contributions so far!
Starting today, your… https://t.co/9BJVXU21tG pic.twitter.com/9JP4nhvqYJIf contributors from differing viewpoints agree that a fact-check is accurate, the note becomes public.
While the system has faced criticism for its speed, the concept of bridging differing opinions has been adopted by Meta as an alternative to traditional fact-checking methods.
This new experiment will see a subset of Community Notes contributors able to see when a post is gaining attention through likes.
These contributors will then have the chance to rate the post and provide feedback, helping the platform determine whether the content is well-received by a broad spectrum of users.
The company’s post on the Community Notes X account explained that the initiative aims to “uncover ideas, insights, and opinions that bridge perspectives.” X emphasised that the test is in its early stages, with the hope of gathering feedback to shape the system further.
“People often feel the world is divided, yet Community Notes shows people can agree, even on contentious topics,” the post stated. “This experimental feature seeks to highlight content that resonates widely, with a goal of building a more inclusive conversation.”
X has expressed optimism about learning from this pilot and iterating on it as part of the ongoing development of Community Notes, aiming to uncover shared understanding across diverse users.