FCC Chair Under Investigation, Snap CEO Defends App Redesign
FCC Chairman Ajit Pai is under investigation for collusion. Last year, Pai and the FCC changed the law which dictates how many stations a TV broadcaster can own. This paved the way for Sinclair to buy Tribune Media for $3.9 billion. Now, investigators are looking into whether Pai improperly colluded with Sinclair to change these rules.
Snap CEO Evan Spiegel is doubling down on the controversial app redesign after facing fierce backlash. At a conference, Spiegel said the widespread criticism actually validates Snapchat's mission. The update rolled out globally a few days ago and has faced sharp backlash from teens and even celebrity influencers like Chrissy Teigen. The new Snapchat separates friends and family from celebrities and media content. A petition to revert back to the old version has already picked up 1 million signatures.
Members-only home swapping network Kindred recently announced its launch alongside a $7.75 million seed round led by Andreessen Horowitz. Homeowners and renters can exchange homes on Kindred's platform, which the company says allows members to travel and take advantage of remote-work flexibility at the fraction of the cost of a hotel or rental home. Justin Palefsky and Tas Amina, co-founders of Kindred, join Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss.
SpoonTEK is an eating utensil that uses new technology to enhance flavors. Co-founders Ken and Cameron Davidov join Cheddar News to explain how the high-tech silverware can not only boost taste but also the health of its user.
Judith Donath, Fellow at Harvard's Berkman Center, and the founder of the Sociable Media Group at the MIT Media Lab, joins Cheddar Reveals to take a trip back through the origins of the Internet and how it's shaped human behavior over decades.
Mike Liebhold, Distinguished Fellow and Senior Technology Researcher, Institute for the Future, joins Cheddar Reveals to discuss what the future of the internet holds and why cell phones could give way to glasses and headsets as the most common way to access the Internet.