TikTok is rolling out a new feature called Footnotes in the United States, enabling users to add community-rated context to their videos. Nearly 80,000 U.S. users have already qualified to contribute, with broader access to the notes set to roll out to viewers in the coming weeks.
First announced back in April 2025, Footnotes are short written notes that appear on public TikTok videos to provide research, statistics, or clarifications. They only surface when other contributors rate them as helpful.
The system is powered by what they call “bridging‑based” ranking. Notes are surfaced when contributors with diverse viewpoints broadly agree they’re useful. This is meant to promote context that connects audiences rather than polarizes them, and it also allows users to rate the notes themselves.
To write Footnotes on TikTok, you must apply for it and meet several requirements.
Eligible contributors must be U.S.‑based, at least 18 years old, have been on the app for six months, and have a verified email or U.S. phone number. Accounts with recent policy violations aren’t eligible. Footnotes can only be added to public videos, and the notes remain visible if a post is later made private.
The company says ads won’t receive Footnotes, but creators who add them to their videos will still be eligible for Creator Rewards. All notes must follow Community Guidelines and go through automated and human moderation. Users can also report any that violate policy.
The company positions Footnotes as part of its wider integrity and media literacy effort, which includes fact‑checking partnerships and content labels.
While contributors in the U.S. can start writing and rating notes now, TikTok says most users will see Footnotes gradually as the system learns which notes to highlight.
Content shared from www.dexerto.com.