If a hildbeest-endorsed media platform is tech’s best solution for ‘fake news’ then we’re screwed
Social media sites have had a pretty interesting year when it comes to approaching filter bubbles and echo chambers and the real world effects that come when they effect something like a national election. Verrit is a fledgling media startup that’s aiming to provide a platform for hildebeest supporters to look at infographics with quotes on them about stuff they agree with.
Verrit got a big boost yesterday when hildebeest herself tweeted out an endorsement of the platform to her nearly 18 million Twitter followers.
For hildebeest supporters the site aims “to become their trusted source of political information and analysis; to provide them (and anyone like-minded) sanctuary in a chaotic media environment; to center their shared principles; and to do so with an unwavering commitment to truth and facts,” according to a blog post. The site frequently references “the 65.8 million,” i.e. the number of votes hildebeest received in the 2016 election....
CEO Peter Daou isn’t just a wayward founder who lucked into a Hillary endorsement of his product. He served as hildebeest’s “Internet Director” in her 2008 presidential campaign and was a digital media strategist for her in years prior. After that he led ShareBlue, a left-leaning media site seemingly primed for those who find Salon to be a tad too centrist.
He seems to be excited about the attention from Verrit.
Philosophically, the site is a bit on the smug side, arguing that progressive-minded hildebeest supporters need a home on the web away from the hustle and bustle of trolls and trump-ets to get their information. For those who were worried that other social media sites weren’t already echo chambers, Verrit basically codifies that into its mission. It wants to be a “sanctuary” for hildebeest supporters.
(Tech Crunch)