The human element in digital news: Why ‘real > viral’ matters more than ever
- Manuel
- Jun 25
- 4 min read
Updated: Aug 12
The digital crossroads: Trust in the age of viral untruths
The way we consume news has changed forever. With just a smartphone and internet access, anyone can document events and share them in real time. This digital transformation has unlocked a new era of citizen journalism—one driven by speed, accessibility, and public participation.
But this progress comes with a serious challenge: misinformation. Content that is emotionally charged but factually incorrect spreads faster than ever. The rise of deepfake technology has only intensified the problem. According to global data, deepfake-related cyberattacks surged by more than 1,000% between 2022 and 2023, with North America alone witnessing a 1,740% spike.
The World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report 2025 names misinformation and disinformation—amplified by AI—as the most urgent global short-term risk. In the UK, 43% of adults report having seen misleading content online, and over 90% express concern about its growing impact on society.
At PressHop, we believe the solution lies in combining advanced AI moderation with real human insight—ensuring what’s shared on our platform isn’t just fast, but factually accurate and verifiably authentic.
Redefining authentic news in the UK through digital news
What does real news mean in 2025?
It means truth that’s traceable. Facts that are verifiable. Reporting that’s driven not by virality, but by integrity.
PressHop is built on this foundation. We define “authentic news” as content that upholds core journalistic values: accuracy, neutrality, timeliness, and clarity. Our community of everyday contributors submits photos and videos that are real—not retouched, reshaped, or manipulated.
But we also recognise the threats facing modern journalism. Viral content is designed to provoke, not inform. It relies on clickbait, outrage, or bias. It often lacks evidence, clear sources, or proper attribution. And it spreads—fast.
That’s why we make “Real > Viral” not just a slogan, but a mission. We’re here to prove that real stories, from real people, can still earn trust, drive impact, and cut through the noise.
How we keep it real: AI-powered moderation + human verification
At PressHop, every submission goes through a rigorous 3-layer verification process before it ever reaches our publishing partners.
We don’t claim to have invented new AI systems—because we didn’t. Instead, we’ve integrated some of the world’s most trusted technologies to protect content credibility:
Metadata validation
We begin by verifying the media’s origin—checking timestamps, location data, and device details. This gives us a foundation to evaluate the legitimacy of each upload.
AI moderation
Using advanced tools powered by Google AI and Amazon AI, our system scans every submission for deepfakes, explicit material, digital manipulation, and compliance with GDPR standards. This ensures any manipulated content is flagged early in the process.
Human editorial review
Technology isn’t perfect—and context matters. That’s why every submission is reviewed by a trained editorial team. We manually check for journalistic value, ethical considerations, and overall accuracy before it’s ever passed along to publishers.
This balanced approach ensures that PressHop content is both real-time and real—fit for broadcast, publishing, or online distribution without compromising journalistic integrity.
Empowering everyday storytellers across the UK
PressHop was founded on a simple idea: the next big headline might come from someone walking down the street, not sitting in a newsroom.
We’re building a platform where anyone—from London commuters to small-town citizens—can capture newsworthy moments and share them securely and ethically with major publishers.
Our system protects contributors at every step:
100% Anonymity: All submissions are protected by default. Your identity is never disclosed without permission.
Safe & Secure Payments: Earn from your content through exclusive or non-exclusive licensing.
Full Control: Contributors choose how their content is used, ensuring fairness, privacy, and personal agency.
By creating a structured, trustworthy system for citizen-generated content, we’re directly addressing the problem of fake news at its root—empowering people to become part of the solution, not the problem.
Bridging the gap between citizens and newsrooms
For publishers, PressHop is more than a content source—it’s a trusted bridge to real stories from real people. Editors can send targeted story requests to vetted contributors in specific locations, ensuring a steady stream of verified, on-the-ground coverage.
For contributors, it’s a chance to turn a passing observation into a powerful, paid news story—without giving up privacy, control, or safety.
This model helps revive local journalism, particularly in underserved areas where traditional reporting resources have dwindled. By decentralising newsgathering and reinforcing fact-checking, PressHop is making sure local voices are heard and local truths are told.
Real stories. Real people. Real impact.
We’re entering an era where AI-generated media is becoming indistinguishable from reality—but PressHop is making a bold stand: we still believe in people.
Our platform is not about viral trends or shock value. It’s about the quiet power of authenticity. It’s about facts, clarity, and responsible reporting. Real > Viral isn’t just our belief—it’s our blueprint. It guides how we moderate content, how we protect contributors, how we serve publishers, and how we build public trust.
By combining cutting-edge AI technology from trusted providers with hands-on human editorial insight, we offer a model for digital news that is scalable, ethical, and future-ready.
Final thoughts: Be part of the change
If you’re a publisher, PressHop gives you instant access to verified, real-time content from trusted UK-based contributors. If you’re a citizen with a story to tell, PressHop helps you share it—safely, ethically, and securely We're not here to flood the internet with more content. We're here to deliver better content—and to bring truth back to the forefront of digital storytelling. This is the future of real news. And we invite you to be a part of it.
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