Elon Musk’s X is experimenting with a new way to use Community Notes, its crowdsourced fact-checking system, to highlight popular posts from users with diverse perspectives. On Thursday, the Community Notes X account announced a pilot test where select contributors can rate posts by answering questions about why they like or dislike them.
The system resembles how Community Notes fact-checking operates. Instead of simple upvotes or downvotes for accuracy—which could be manipulated by like-minded users—Community Notes relies on a “bridging algorithm.” This algorithm seeks consensus among people who typically hold opposing views.
When users with differing opinions agree on a fact-check, the note is published and displayed publicly. While X’s system has faced criticism for being slow and struggling to combat widespread misinformation, Meta has adopted a similar approach as a replacement for traditional fact-checking.
Now, X aims to test whether Community Notes can also identify high-quality posts. Starting today, a small group of contributors will see a new prompt when a post gains traction through likes. They can then rate and provide feedback, helping the algorithm determine if the post resonates with people across different perspectives.
In a post on the Community Notes X account, the company explained that the experiment could reveal “what resonates broadly.” The post stated, “People often feel the world is divided, yet Community Notes shows agreement is possible, even on contentious topics. This experimental feature aims to uncover insights that bridge perspectives.”
The company emphasized its commitment to public development, stating, “Following the path we used to build Community Notes, we’re launching a small pilot so this concept can evolve with user input. We look forward to learning and improving alongside our contributors, just as we do with Community Notes every day.”