TikTok’s New Footnotes Feature: Will It Outshine X/Twitter’s?

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TikTok is taking after platforms like Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook by introducing a new feature called ‘Footnotes,’ similar to community notes.

Since the Community Notes feature from X dominantly replaced the microblogging platform, other social networking sites have introduced similar features as a response.

In August 2024, YouTube pioneered the return of a feature akin to notes on video-centric platforms, while Mark Zuckerberg announced plans to incorporate this type of feature into Instagram, Threads, and Facebook at some point in 2025.

On Wednesday, April 16th, TikTok introduced a new feature they’re calling ‘Footnotes.’

TikTok starts testing Footnotes feature

In a recent blog post, the company owned by ByteDance unveiled its latest addition, which they’ve been secretly testing with certain users.

Instead of just us providing information, we want to incorporate the wisdom of TikTok users by enabling them to add useful details to our platform’s content. Initially, this feature will be piloted in the U.S. for short videos.

…”Regardless of whether the content delves into intricate STEM subjects, presents potentially deceiving statistics, or offers updates on current events, more background information might be beneficial for readers to fully grasp it. This is the reason behind our development of Footnotes.

TikTok plans to employ a rating system, much like X, where users will be asked to evaluate the usefulness of captions in relation to the video itself by casting votes.

Initially available only to U.S. users, this new feature becomes accessible once you register your intent to contribute content to Footnotes by signing up.

How to sign up for TikTok Footnotes

US-based TikTok creators can submit applications to become Footnotes contributors; however, there are specific criteria that need to be fulfilled for eligibility.

  • The account must be older than six months
  • The user must be 18 years or older
  • No recent history of violating TikTok’s Community Guidelines

With numerous TikTok users pondering the platform’s fate in the U.S., this new feature rollout arrives amidst uncertainty about its long-term availability, as a law prohibiting the app became effective on January 19, 2025. However, President Trump has ordered that enforcement of this ban be postponed for a duration of 75 days.

On April 5 when the initial order lapsed, Trump issued a subsequent decree, pushing back the enactment of the ban until June 2025, or until ByteDance consents to a sale of TikTok.

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2025-04-17 18:50