This week was something that Axios claims was “peak fake”:

This week we reached a peak fake, with Facebook saying it deleted 2.2 billion fake accounts in 3 months, a fake video of Nancy Pelosi going viral, and Trump going on a fresh "fake news" tear. This is just a taste of our unfiltered future.https://t.co/x8NqijDdxe — Axios (@axios) May 25, 2019

That lit the light bulb over Brian Stelter’s head:

There's a big market opportunity for an all-verified, all-real social network https://t.co/qS3cvaNLlg — Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) May 25, 2019

Hmm, OK. But that leads to some questions:

When you say all real, would this entail social networks fact-checking posts before they go up? Or deleting posts that contain inaccurate information? Would that apply to journalists? — Peter J. Hasson (@peterjhasson) May 25, 2019

Who do you propose verifies this social network? https://t.co/BHcgkRaHC2 — BT (@back_ttys) May 25, 2019

So who would be in charge of verification? https://t.co/mdwaBtXNL8 — Steven Cheung (@CaliforniaPanda) May 25, 2019

Maybe Dan Rather & Michael Avenatti?

CNN gets to do all the verification, right Mr. "Reliable Sources"? ? Pass. https://t.co/Glb4p1rh1d — Peter D'Abrosca (@pdabrosca) May 25, 2019

People at the network that presented the embarrassment that was the Covington coverage would certainly consider themselves in the position to decide what’s “real” news and what isn’t.

The people Brian thinks should be “verifying” social media posts (himself and his colleagues) are the reason these sites have a market. Nobody trusts your “filters”. — BT (@back_ttys) May 25, 2019

Exactly.

There’s an even bigger market opportunity for an all-verified, all-real news network that doesn’t spend its time & resources doxxing GIF makers & fact-checking memes & FB videos. — TheRightWingM ?? (@TheRightWingM) May 25, 2019

“Social media really needs to get their act together on verifying videos & sources.”- CNN pic.twitter.com/9bkuRZfRir — TheRightWingM ?? (@TheRightWingM) May 25, 2019

Self-awareness isn’t a Stelter strong suit.

Journalists yearn for an all verified social network so that they don’t have to work so hard to Dox random people for wrongthink. https://t.co/32SXruvEXC — Smittie™ GED (Hons), BS (D-) (@smittie61984) May 25, 2019

Guys the checkmarks are going to protect us from the big bad meme videos, praise be https://t.co/u34yXIVqd0 — Eli (@UnrealElijah) May 25, 2019

You’re only real if you’re verified, peasants https://t.co/A9DQVUFijP — Grant (@GrantGambling) May 25, 2019

It sounds as if some media types are longing for the days of JournoList.