Elon Musk says X will send DMs when posts you’ve engaged with are corrected
X is planning to implement a new feature that notifies users via direct message when a post they have interacted with receives a Community Note correction. This update aims to combat the spread of misinformation by ensuring users are alerted to inaccuracies even after their initial engagement.
Why it matters
This change addresses a major criticism regarding the latency of fact-checking, potentially reducing the viral spread of false information on social media platforms.
X's crowdsourced fact-checking system, Community Notes, will be updated to send users direct messages alerting them whenever a post they have interacted with has received a correction. The change, which is not yet live, was announced by X owner Elon Musk. He did not share a time frame for its launch.
The update attempts to address one of the bigger criticisms about Community Notes - that corrections arrive too late to matter. A misleading post can accumulate views and reposts while its accuracy is disputed, and by the time it's corrected, the damage has been done. By proactively notifying users when a post receives a correction, X is trying to extend the reach of the note beyond the original post. This could also allow users who spread false information to issue their own mea culpa, if they had been duped.
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