Threads Launches Its Own Fact-Verification Effort

Threads, Meta’s latest social network, is beginning its independent fact-checking program after relying on Instagram and Facebook’s network for some time.

According to Instagram head Adam Mosseri, the company has “recently” introduced the capability for fact-checkers to assess and flag false content on Threads. However, he didn’t provide specifics regarding the rollout date or whether it is restricted to specific regions.

The fact-checking partners for Threads within Meta have not yet been disclosed.

This decision appears to be primarily aimed at gearing up for the upcoming U.S. elections. While India is also currently conducting its general elections, it is unusual for a social network to introduce a fact-checking program during an election period instead of initiating the project well ahead of the elections. This strategic move could indicate that Meta is prioritizing the credibility of information shared on Threads, especially during critical periods such as election cycles, to combat misinformation and ensure a more informed user experience.

Meta announced in December that its fact-checking partners would gain the ability to evaluate and rate untrue content directly on Threads by early 2024. Meta said that until then, it could only link existing fact-checks to “near-identical content on Threads.”

At that time, Mosseri said in a post, “We currently match fact-check ratings from Facebook or Instagram to Threads, but our goal is for fact-checking partners to have the ability to review and rate misinformation on the app.”

Now, Mosseri has announced on Threads that “fact-checkers can rate Threads content on its own.”

In recent reports, Meta has revealed hitting a big milestone, with an average of 3.24 billion daily active users (DAU) across its diverse range of apps, including Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, and Threads. This figure represents a 7% increase year-over-year, highlighting Meta’s continued dominance in the social media and messaging sphere.

Threads has shown significant growth, with over 150 million monthly active users (MAU). This significant spike marks a substantial increase from the 130 million MAUs reported in February 2024, highlighting Threads’ growing popularity among users across the globe.