birdwatch

Birdwatch is a community-driven feature originally launched by Twitter, later rebranded as X, to provide context for tweets that may be misleading. It allows registered users to create notes that explain why a tweet might be inaccurate and to cite sources. Each note is linked to a specific tweet and posted in a Birdwatch database that is publicly accessible; depending on configuration, some notes may also be surfaced to other users within the main app.

How it works: users propose notes that include verifiable sources and clear reasoning. Notes are subject to a community moderation process in which other Birdwatch participants can vote on usefulness and accuracy. The system emphasizes transparency and crowdsourced input rather than official, professional fact-checking. Importantly, notes do not remove tweets; they serve to add contextual information that can help readers assess content.

Participation is voluntary and governed by community guidelines aimed at preventing abuse, harassment, and manipulation. The program is experimental and subject to changes in policy and interface as Twitter/X evaluates its effectiveness and governance.

History and status: Birdwatch was introduced in the early 2020s as an experimental attempt to counter misinformation through user-generated context. A public Birdwatch site hosts the notes, and visibility within the main platform has varied during organizational and policy updates. As of 2024, Birdwatch remained in an experimental phase with limited integration into the standard user experience and ongoing debates about its reliability, governance, and potential biases.

Reception has been mixed: proponents see it as a way to add diverse perspectives and context, while critics point to questions of accuracy, consistency, and possible manipulation.