Higgs verifies users as the first online medium in Switzerland
The online knowledge magazine Higgs is taking the next step in the fight against fake news. To increase transparency and strengthen mutual trust, the comment sections of this independent knowledge platform now show who you’re actually discussing with.
To this end, users have the option of having their identity verified by Higgs. According to the announcement, this verification process goes beyond the clear name requirement of other media. However, the verification of user profiles remains voluntary - anonymous participation in discussions is still possible, but verified profiles will enjoy more credibility and trust in the community.
In addition, Higgs is the first online medium in Switzerland to make the scientific competence and expertise of its users visible to others. Verified scientists - who already make up a remarkable proportion of users - can be recognized as "Scientists" in the comment columns of Higgs. "We are thus further expanding our pioneering role in the fight against fake news and in bringing society and science together," says Beat Glogger, founder and editor-in-chief of Higgs.
The growing Higgs community should benefit from this innovation. The creators are convinced that, in contrast to anonymous comments, verified users enable a more natural discussion. "We are moving away from mere expressions of opinion towards real discussions that people can otherwise only have offline," says Michael Baumann, co-founder and Head of Development at higgs. "With our in-house development, we are sending out a clear signal in times of fake news - especially on social media," says Community Developer and Social Media Manager Sandro Bucher. "With this innovation, higgs offers its users the opportunity to take part in high-quality discussions."
