Social networks want to combat the spread of misinformation. When something major occurs, sites such as Facebook and Twitter can provide people with real time information of what’s going on. This all the while being good. Can also be a hot bed for misinformation. Lies, truth and everything in between. Therefore Twitter wants to do something about it. Via Twitter local news!

To do this, Twitter are teaming up with select local news services to broadcast local news live. Therefore doing the utmost best to provide news that is factually correct. While this won’t stop people from spreading complete lies. Yet, it will do a lot of good to provide up to date, important, local news. While the spread of misinformation can be unintentional, it still doesn’t stop others as reporting it as fact. Which is why Twitter are focusing so much on broadcasting local news in a live manner.

Over in the US Twitter have already begun utilizing the live local news on thier service. Miami’s WSVN 7 live streamed footage of the recent tragic shooting in Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. This footage was displayed on users timelines within America.

Kayvon Beykpour Twitter’s video general manager (and former Periscope CEO) Spole to Buzzfeed News about Twitter local news:

“We’re continuing to work on new ways we can surface credible and relevant information to help people stay informed. By pairing live video with the conversation on Twitter, there is no faster way to see what’s happening in the world.”

Twitter local news: How does it work?

What’s different than the regular streaming services that Twitter currently offer is that anyone clicking the local news feed will be linked to a custom timeline. The Twitter local news timeline will show live footage of what’s going on and tweets (which are selected and organised by an algorithm alongside) The display of tweets alongside what’s happening in real time, Twitter hopes, will help stop the spread of misinformation.

To listen to the guys chatting about this please click here!