How to Enroll in Twitter’s Community Notes Program
Community Notes, the user-driven fact-checking tool integrated into Twitter (formerly known as X), has become a cornerstone of Elon Musk’s vision for the platform. Initially introduced as Birdwatch, this feature predates Musk’s acquisition of Twitter. However, under his leadership, the name was changed, and the responsibility for content moderation was handed over to users through Community Notes.
While opinions on Community Notes vary, it remains a pivotal component of Twitter. A prime example is in a letter to the EU from X CEO Linda Yaccarino, addressing concerns about potential violations of disinformation-related laws. Yaccarino emphasized that a significant portion of content moderation on the platform is now carried out by users participating in Community Notes.
If you’re already on Twitter and wish to join this program, here’s a step-by-step guide on how to get started.
### Community Notes Eligibility
First and foremost, your Twitter account must meet specific eligibility criteria to participate in the Community Notes program:
– Your account should not have recently violated Twitter’s rules.
– You must have been on the platform for at least six months.
– Your account must have a verified phone number from a trusted carrier linked to it.
Signing Up
If you meet the eligibility requirements, you can proceed to sign up for Community Notes. During this process, you’ll need to agree to the program’s terms and conditions.
Waiting for Acceptance
Once you’ve completed the sign-up, the next step is to wait for Twitter to review and accept your application. The exact wait time for acceptance can vary widely. Some users gain access within a short period, while others may have to wait for several weeks. On average, the waiting period appears to be around two weeks.
Acceptance Notification
If Twitter accepts you into the Community Notes program, you’ll receive a notification confirming your acceptance. You should also see the Community Notes tab on the left-hand side of the menu, indicating that you are now a part of the program.
Getting Started
Now that you’re in the program, you’ll be asked to select a randomly generated username to associate with your Community Notes submissions. These usernames are designed to be anonymous and are solely used to connect your account to the notes you submit.
Initially, you’ll have the ability to rate existing Community Notes. If a post does not already have a note, you won’t be able to add one at this stage. However, once you’ve rated enough existing Community Notes, and they receive sufficient ratings to go live, you can start submitting your own original notes. This includes posts that do not yet have any Community Notes associated with them.
By following these steps, you can actively participate in Twitter’s Community Notes program and play a role in the platform’s content moderation efforts.