NewsPicks CEO: Humans, Not Algorithms, Pick Content to Counter Fake News
*By Michael Teich*
At a time when misinformation floods digital news platforms, and internet trolls take over comment sections, online news platform NewsPicks is turning to high-profile curators for quality content.
Curation led by trusted sources increases the "chance of bringing in the best content that's obviously not fake," said CEO Ian Myers.
The growing need to purge tech sites of potentially problematic content was highlighted most recently by Twitter which, [according to the Washington Post](https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2018/07/06/twitter-is-sweeping-out-fake-accounts-like-never-before-putting-user-growth-risk/), suspended 70 million fake accounts over the last two months and was banning more than a million accounts a day.
Fears that such a culling would cut into user growth sent shares of Twitter reeling Monday, though the stock was about to pare losses after CFO Ned Segal [tweeted](https://twitter.com/nedsegal/status/1016371745933033472) that such accounts were not counted in the company's metrics.
Still, the way news is digested and delivered is undergoing a period of disruption, and tech companies such as Apple, Google, and Facebook are looking to seize the market. But the aggregation by Silicon Valley natives lacks originality, Myers told Cheddar.
“It’s commodity news. Doesn’t matter where you get it. It’s just where you click first.”
NewsPicks is owned by a Japanese media company that also acquired Quartz last week for up to $110 million.
For the full segment, [click here.](https://cheddar.com/videos/newspicks-ceos-key-to-winning-digital-news-quality-over-quantity)
As the cryptocurrency and digital asset space continues to evolve and grow, one podcast launching on Spotify's new video podcast platform aims to inform listeners about the various uses and developments in the crypto world. 'New Money' features guests from the entertainment and sports worlds discussing building wealth in the crypto space, creating NFTs, working on digital contracts, and more. Solo Ceesay, co-host of the 'New Money' podcast and co-founder of creator-focused social media platform Calaxy, joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss what the podcast will explore, its guest lineup, how they verify content amid broader crypto speculation, and more.
Lime is celebrating the launch of its latest electric bike in Washington, DC, this week, with more cities joining in this spring. The Gen4 e-bike boasts a new look, a more powerful motor, and a battery that's interchangeable with the Gen4 e-scooter. CEO Wayne Ting joined Cheddar to discuss the company's investment in electric bikes and the potential role of micromobility in the metaverse. "I think it would be incredible as a way to teach people to live greener, if there are worlds out there, metaverses out there, where the way you go faster in that world is if you take a bike and a scooter," he said. "So, you're teaching people better behavior as part of their virtual world as well."
Microsoft has discontinued the Xbox One as it looks to focus on ramping up production for its current Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X. The Xbox One first hit the market in November 2013.
Alfred Griffin, the CEO and Co-Founder of LightForce, joins Cheddar Innovates to discuss how 3D printing is making braces more affordable and personalized, and what this means for the future of orthodontics.
Alex Garden, Chairman and CEO at Zume, joins Cheddar Innovates to discuss how individuals can take steps to end their reliance on plastic, and Zume's partnership with global robotics company ABB to put sustainability at the forefront.
Tesla has scrubbed any mention of its Cybertruck being released in 2022 from its website after the company delayed production last year. The EV maker is slated to begin manufacturing the electric truck at its Austin, Texas, facility, to open early this year.
