Sonny Valindra
The digital landscape of news consumption is undergoing a seismic shift, with a growing number of individuals turning to social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube to stay informed. However, this migration is increasingly marred by a deluge of misinformation and the proliferation of AI-generated content, colloquially termed "AI slop." This trend has fueled escalating concerns about the trustworthiness of online information, a sentiment exacerbated by ongoing legal challenges against Meta, specifically concerning its alleged role in harming young people, and heightened scrutiny surrounding the ownership of TikTok’s U.S. operations. Concurrently, trust in traditional news organizations continues its downward trajectory, underscored by a Pew Research study from October 2025, which revealed that only 56% of U.S. adults express having a significant or moderate level of trust in national news media.
In this challenging environment, a new contender has emerged: SaySo. This innovative short-form video application aims to redefine how users engage with news by offering a curated experience from verified creators and independent journalists. Launched for iOS users in the United States and Canada this month, SaySo follows a successful private beta period that commenced in November 2025. The app’s core mission is to provide a more deliberate and personalized approach to news consumption, consciously designed to eschew the endless, often overwhelming, scrolling that characterizes many existing platforms.
Addressing the "Infodemic": SaySo’s Curated Approach to News
The pervasive issue of misinformation on social media has reached critical levels, impacting public discourse and individual understanding of complex issues. Studies have consistently highlighted the speed at which false or misleading information can spread, often outpacing factual corrections. For instance, research from the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism has repeatedly pointed to the challenges users face in distinguishing between credible news and fabricated content on these platforms. The visual and fast-paced nature of short-form video, while engaging, can also make it a fertile ground for deceptive narratives, as emotional appeals and sensationalism often take precedence over factual accuracy.
SaySo’s strategic design directly confronts this "infodemic" by prioritizing curated content and creator verification. Unlike platforms where algorithms can inadvertently amplify sensationalized or inaccurate material, SaySo emphasizes a more controlled environment. The app’s introduction comes at a time when trust in information sources is at an all-time low. The aforementioned Pew Research Center data indicates a steady decline in public confidence in news organizations over the past decade, a trend exacerbated by political polarization and the perceived biases within traditional media. Social media, while offering accessibility, has failed to fill this trust deficit, often becoming a breeding ground for conspiracy theories and unsubstantiated claims.
The Daily Digest: A Personalized News Experience
A cornerstone of SaySo’s offering is its "Daily Digest" feature. Upon establishing a user profile, individuals are empowered to select specific areas of interest, ranging from politics and social issues to public health and crime. Based on these selections, SaySo curates a tailored set of video news segments for the user each day. This personalized selection undergoes a refresh cycle every 20 hours, ensuring that users receive timely updates without the pressure of constant monitoring. This deliberate pacing aims to foster a more mindful consumption habit, allowing users to absorb information without feeling inundated.
The concept of a "digest" in news is not new, with daily newspapers and weekly news magazines having historically served this purpose. However, SaySo translates this familiar concept into the dynamic, short-form video format, leveraging the engagement potential of visual media while attempting to mitigate its inherent risks. The 20-hour refresh cycle also implicitly acknowledges the rapid pace of news cycles while providing a structured interval for consumption and reflection, a stark contrast to the infinite scroll of platforms like TikTok and Instagram.
Beyond the Digest: Exploration and Engagement Features
While the Daily Digest provides a structured news diet, SaySo also recognizes the user’s desire for broader exploration. The app features an "Explore" page, designed to facilitate the discovery of additional content from a diverse array of creators. This section allows users to delve into topics beyond their immediate interests, fostering serendipitous learning and exposure to different perspectives.
Complementing these discovery tools, SaySo incorporates familiar social media functionalities. Users can follow their preferred creators, engage with content through likes, save videos for later viewing, leave comments, and share content with their networks. These features are crucial for building a community around news consumption and encouraging active participation, transforming passive viewers into engaged citizens. The integration of these standard features suggests an understanding of user behavior on digital platforms, aiming to provide a comfortable and intuitive experience while maintaining its distinct focus on news integrity.
Upholding Credibility: Source Verification and Moderation
A critical differentiator for SaySo is its unwavering commitment to content integrity. The platform mandates that creators explicitly include their sources of information directly within their videos. This transparency is a direct attempt to combat the spread of misinformation and build a foundation of trust with its user base. Furthermore, SaySo employs a robust moderation system that combines both human oversight and AI capabilities, with a particular emphasis on source validation.
Dion Bailey, co-founder and CTO of SaySo, elaborated on the rigorous content review process in a statement to TechCrunch: "Content doesn’t auto-publish. Everything goes through a moderation queue, so most problems are caught before they reach readers. If something slips through and gets flagged, we investigate, address it directly with the creator, and take it down if it crosses the line." This multi-layered approach aims to preemptively filter out problematic content, ensuring that what reaches users is not only engaging but also factually sound. The emphasis on a "moderation queue" suggests a proactive stance rather than a reactive one, a crucial distinction in the current information ecosystem.
The implications of such a strict moderation policy are significant. It positions SaySo as a platform that actively combats the inherent challenges of user-generated content by imposing clear standards and consequences. This contrasts with some platforms where the sheer volume of content makes comprehensive moderation a monumental, and often unattainable, task.
Community-Driven Accountability: The "Community Notes" Initiative
Building on the principles of transparency and collective responsibility, SaySo is actively developing a "community notes" feature. This initiative mirrors the crowdsourced fact-checking models pioneered by platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and TikTok. By empowering users to contribute to the accountability process, SaySo aims to harness the collective intelligence of its community to identify and flag potentially misleading information. This approach democratizes the fact-checking process, recognizing that a diverse group of users can often spot inaccuracies that automated systems or even professional moderators might miss.
The success of similar "community notes" features has varied, but the underlying principle of involving the user base in maintaining information integrity is a powerful one. For SaySo, this feature represents an opportunity to foster a more engaged and critically minded audience, transforming users from passive consumers into active participants in the pursuit of accurate news. The implementation of such a system, however, will require careful design to prevent manipulation and ensure that contributions are constructive and fact-based.
A New Cohort of Creators: The Foundation of SaySo’s Content
At its inception, SaySo has onboarded approximately 30 creators, carefully selected for their expertise and commitment to journalistic standards. Among these early adopters is Nico Agosta, who garnered recognition for his "Stocking the Capitol" video series, which scrutinizes the financial dealings of U.S. Congress members. Another notable creator is Dr. Victoria, who focuses on critical topics related to racial justice and social change. Isabel Ravenna, an independent journalist with a distinguished portfolio including bylines in prestigious publications like National Geographic, also contributes to the platform.
The inclusion of such established and credible voices signals SaySo’s intention to attract creators who prioritize depth and accuracy. By providing a platform that values their work and offers a path to monetization, SaySo aims to foster a sustainable ecosystem for independent journalism in the digital age. The selection of these creators, who often operate outside the traditional media structures, also reflects a broader trend of journalists and experts leveraging social media to reach wider audiences directly.
Creator Compensation: A Foundation for Sustainability
Addressing the crucial aspect of creator compensation, Ramin Beheshti, CEO and co-founder of SaySo, revealed that many creators have joined as "founding partners" and are receiving a stipend from the outset. Beheshti further elaborated on the company’s future plans: "Over the coming months, we’ll be building out the full monetization infrastructure, and when that revenue flows, the vast majority goes directly to creators." While specific details regarding the monetization infrastructure and revenue split remain undisclosed, this commitment to prioritizing creator earnings is a significant factor in attracting and retaining talent in a competitive digital content market.
The history of creator monetization on social media platforms has been a complex and often contentious issue. Many creators have expressed frustration with opaque algorithms, unpredictable revenue streams, and a disproportionate share of ad revenue going to the platforms themselves. SaySo’s stated intention to direct the "vast majority" of revenue to creators could be a powerful incentive, positioning it as a more creator-friendly alternative.
The Genesis of SaySo: A Vision for Modern Journalism
SaySo is the flagship application of Caliber, an organization formerly known as The News Movement. Founded in 2022, the company rebranded in 2025 with a renewed focus on social, short-form journalism. This strategic shift reflects an understanding of the evolving media landscape and the growing demand for news delivered in accessible, engaging formats.
Ramin Beheshti articulated the company’s foundational philosophy: "We wanted to build a new breed of news product that helped people, rather than add to the familiar overwhelm so many of us experience. Overlay that with what building Caliber has taught us about creators and the changing shape of modern media, and we believe we’ve unlocked something very special." This vision underscores a desire to create a platform that not only informs but also empowers users by reducing information overload and fostering a sense of agency in their news consumption. The rebranding from "The News Movement" to "Caliber" suggests a maturation and refinement of their mission, emphasizing quality and precision in their journalistic endeavors.
Beheshti’s prior experience as chief product and tech officer at Dow Jones, a prominent financial news organization, lends significant credibility to Caliber’s ambitions. This background suggests a deep understanding of journalistic principles, technological innovation, and the business of news, providing a solid foundation for SaySo’s development and growth.
Future Expansion and Market Impact
Looking ahead, SaySo has ambitious plans for expansion. The company intends to launch its platform in the United Kingdom during the summer of 2026, with further international market entries slated for later in the year and throughout 2027. This global outlook indicates a belief in the universal appeal of a well-curated, trustworthy news experience, regardless of geographical location.
The introduction of SaySo arrives at a critical juncture, where public trust in information is fragile and the demand for reliable news sources is paramount. The app’s success will likely hinge on its ability to consistently deliver high-quality, verified content, attract and retain talented creators, and effectively engage its user base. If SaySo can successfully navigate these challenges, it has the potential to significantly impact the future of news consumption, offering a much-needed alternative to the often chaotic and unreliable landscape of social media news. The long-term implications could include a broader shift in how digital-native audiences consume and engage with news, potentially setting new industry standards for transparency, verification, and creator compensation.
