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.
Social media platforms are often flooded with unverified information, and many people use their news feeds as their main source of news. But Snap is working to set itself apart as it partners with global news outlets to launch Dynamic Stories. Vetted news content will be available for users on the Discovery tab, and news outlets will have an easy way to push content out and reach more people. Alan Wolk, Co-Founder and Lead Analyst at TVREV, joins Closing Bell to discuss Snap's push into news, how it will monetize clicks, whether or not another social media site will imitate the feature, and more.
"New Collar" is a recent term coined for tech jobs that don’t necessarily require a degree but do need a specified technological skillset. Matt Calkins, CEO at cloud-computing and software company Appian, joined Cheddar News to discuss the latest. "This new collar movement is about switching the track you’re on and getting out to a higher value track, making the most of your skills," he said.
Ice Cube's 3-on-3 basketball league, the Big3, is introducing decentralized team ownership to fans with the chance to own a minority stake in the 12 teams through blockchain technology, a first for professional sports. The rapper, actor, and filmmaker joined Cheddar News to talk about the new ownership model using NFTs. "This is a perfect time to offer it to fans and not just wait for fat cats to come and want to buy the teams but for fans to be able to be a part of it,” he said.
Catching you up on what you need to know on April 13, 2022, with President Biden referring to the Russian invasion of Ukraine as a genocide, a suspect has been identified in the Brooklyn subway shooting that injured 23 people, New York’s lieutenant governor has resigned due to bribery allegations, and more.
