Social Media Users Seek Reliable News Amid Misinformation Concerns
In an era where platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube play a significant role in shaping public opinion, users are increasingly expressing frustration over the prevalence of misinformation and low-quality content. These concerns have heightened recently due to legal actions against Meta, which have spotlighted the impacting content on young people’s mental health, as well as ongoing debates about TikTok’s ownership in the U.S. A Pew Research study from October revealed that only 56% of American adults trust national news media, indicating an erosion of confidence in traditional news outlets.
Introducing SaySo: A Fresh Approach to News Delivery
Amid this backdrop, SaySo has emerged as a short-form video app aimed at delivering curated news from verified creators and independent journalists. Officially launched for iOS users in the U.S. and Canada this month, SaySo has completed a private beta phase since November.
Curated News Experience Without Endless Scrolling
Distinguishing itself from conventional social media, SaySo is designed to provide a more focused and personalized news experience. Unlike the endless scrolling typical of other platforms, SaySo encourages users to engage with content intentionally.
Daily Digest Feature Enhances User Engagement
A notable aspect of SaySo is its Daily Digest feature. After creating a profile, users can select topics of interest, ranging from politics and public health to social issues and crime, allowing the app to curate a fresh set of videos for them every 20 hours.
Content Discovery and Community Engagement
To further enrich user experiences, SaySo includes an Explore page that lets users discover additional content from various creators. The app incorporates standard social features, such as the ability to follow other users and interact through liking, saving, commenting, and sharing.
Commitment to Trustworthy Content
SaySo places a strong emphasis on content integrity by requiring creators to cite sources directly within their videos. The platform employs a combination of human and AI moderation systems to ensure content reliability. Dion Bailey, co-founder and CTO, highlighted that all content goes through a rigorous moderation process before publication, significantly reducing the chance of misinformation reaching users.
Community Participation in Fact-Checking
In addition to traditional moderation, SaySo is developing a “community notes” feature that allows users to contribute to a crowdsourced fact-checking initiative, similar to systems implemented by platforms like X and TikTok.
Creator Onboarding and Perspectives on Monetization
At launch, SaySo welcomed approximately 30 content creators, including Nico Agosta, known for his “Stocking the Capitol” series, Dr. Victoria, who focuses on racial justice, and independent journalist Isabel Ravenna, who has contributed to National Geographic. Regarding creator compensation, CEO Ramin Beheshti stated that many creators have begun their journey as founding partners, receiving stipends from day one as the app develops its monetization infrastructure. He hinted that the majority of future revenue will be directed back to users, although specific details on revenue models remain undisclosed.
A Vision for the Future of Journalism
SaySo serves as the flagship application of Caliber, formerly known as The News Movement, which rebranded in 2025 to enhance its focus on short-form journalism. Beheshti articulated the company’s mission to create a news product that alleviates the information overload many face today. Looking ahead, SaySo plans to expand into the U.K. this summer, with aspirations to reach other markets by 2027.