YouTube was caught up in controversy again Wednesday after a widely debunked video about the Parkland, Fla., shooting not only went undetected by its filters, but actually became a top trending piece on the site.
Axios reporter Sara Fischer says the video slipped through the cracks because it featured visuals from a “real news source.”
“The bad actor that uploaded that...manipulated it with bad comments and bad language,” she said.
The video claiming a survivor of the Parkland shooting was an actor planted by gun control advocates was eventually taken down. YouTube said it’s “working to improve our systems moving forward.”
Social media platforms have been criticized for the secrecy of algorithms that drive trending content, especially during breaking news situations. But lifting that cloak of mystery may not be the silver bullet.
“[These companies] don’t want bad actors to game the system. And how will they do that? They’ll do that if they know exactly how the algorithms are being tweaked,” explained Fischer.
Tech companies are taking steps to combat the spread of “fake news”. Twitter has worked to get rid of bots that automatically retweet content, and Facebook is going to start down-ranking “non-authoritative news” and “up ranking local news.”
Still, problems persist.
“It’s hard to get 100% perfect and retain that openness,” adds Fischer. “That openness is actually sometimes what helps break the actual news. So it’s a delicate dance that they have to do.”
The social video platform's future remains in doubt, as players scramble to profit from the chaos. Plus: Big oil gets bigger, DOGE downsizes, and tariffs!
Ty Young, CEO of Ty J. Young Wealth Management, joins Cheddar to discuss Trump's moves as he returns to Washington D.C. and how it may affect the U.S. economy.
Starbucks’ decision to restrict its restrooms to paying customers has flushed out a wider problem: a patchwork of restroom use policies that varies by state and city. Starbucks announced last week a new code of conduct that says people need to make a purchase if they want to hang out or use the restroom. The coffee chain's policy change for bathroom privileges has left Americans confused and divided over who gets to go and when. The American Restroom Association, a public toilet advocacy group, was among the critics. Rules about restroom access in restaurants vary by state, city and county. The National Retail Federation says private businesses have a right to limit restroom use.
President Donald Trump is talking up a joint venture investing up to $500 billion for infrastructure tied to artificial intelligence by a new partnership formed by OpenAI, Oracle and SoftBank. The new entity, Stargate, will start building out data centers and the electricity generation needed for the further development of the fast-evolving AI in Texas, according to the White House. The initial investment is expected to be $100 billion and could reach five times that sum. While Trump has seized on similar announcements to show that his presidency is boosting the economy, there were already expectations of a massive buildout of data centers and electricity plants needed for the development of AI.
Chris Ruder, Spikeball Founder and CEO, explains how he and his friends put roundnet on the global map, plus, how Spikeball helps people "find their circle."
J.W. Roth, CEO of Venu Holding Corporation, discusses the company's IPO and plans to redefine live music entertainment with their fan founded, fan-owned model.
