Globally, 7 out of 10 people harbor deep skepticism toward anyone holding different values or relying on alternative information sources. Most believe this rift is severe enough that people actively work against one another. This dynamic is clearly visible in the comment threads of any post discussing controversial opinions or polarizing topics.
These insights stem from the 2026 Edelman Trust Barometer, which surveyed nearly 34,000 individuals across 28 nations. This widespread wariness persists across all age groups, income levels, and both developed and developing economies.
This same skepticism appears on the platforms people rely on most for news. While the Reuters Institute notes that social and video networks serve as the primary gateways for online news, only 22% of users trust the news they encounter on social media.
Geo—a knowledge network established by Yaniv Tal, co-founder of The Graph—released Geo Debates on September 22. The application brings two people with opposing viewpoints together on screen, utilizing the exact short-form vertical video format common on modern feeds.
Geo Debates Hands Each Side a Clock and Mutes the Other Mic
Every debate focuses on a single claim, and participants must declare their stance before Geo pairs them up. The platform exclusively connects individuals with someone holding the opposing viewpoint.
The participants debate via video using timed, alternating turns. The application automatically mutes the microphone of the person who is not currently speaking, preventing either party from talking over the other.
Afterward, Geo combines both recordings into a single subtitled split-screen video and publishes it to a vertical feed. Viewers then vote on who presented the more convincing argument and can inspect individual claims to review supporting evidence. Claims carry tags indicating whether they are factual or opinion-based, though the platform does not officially determine their ultimate truth.
This short-video format aligns with current audience viewing habits. According to Reuters Institute data, 77% of individuals consume online news videos on a weekly basis, with TikTok news consumption heavily favoring clips shorter than two minutes.
Initial debates tackle topics ranging from cryptocurrencies, markets, artificial intelligence, and politics to broader cultural questions, such as whether Bitcoin (BTC) surpasses gold as a store of value. Tal connects this approach directly to traditional democratic and scientific debate.
“In order to get closer to the truth, we have to be able to examine issues from different sides. Democracies have a rich tradition of debate, as does the scientific community. Any institution that seeks to find truth or alignment requires healthy debate, and I think we need to bring this into the internet age,” said Yaniv Tal.
Geo Files Each Claim in a Knowledge Graph With Web3 Roots
Once a debate concludes, Geo extracts the claims made by each speaker and logs them under their respective names. Other members of the community can subsequently select these claims and challenge them directly.
Geo defines its ecosystem as a repository of knowledge designed for both people and AI, with transparent sourcing. Much of this curation relies on users, as the platform invites visitors to contribute sources and context.
The project’s underlying technology highlights its Web3 origins. Documentation from The Graph outlines Geo’s role as a core developer on the protocol. An earlier application from the team, Geo Genesis, leveraged The Graph’s GRC-20 standard for collaborative knowledge graphs to publish information onchain, though Geo has not confirmed whether debate claims are recorded onchain in the exact same manner.
Tal traces the inspiration for the platform back to the spread of misinformation during the 2016 US election and the contentious public discourse surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic.
A Crowd Vote Can Crown the Better Performer
Audience votes indicate who delivered the more effective performance, leaving room for a charismatic speaker to win despite relying on weaker evidence.
Data from the Reuters Institute indicates that audiences already distinguish between entertainment value and trustworthiness when evaluating news creators. Viewers often view creators as more entertaining and relatable than traditional media outlets, yet consider them less trustworthy and impartial. Consequently, community voting on the stronger case may prioritize delivery and appeal over factual rigor.
Recent studies indicate that format plays a critical role. A 2024 study paired 582 UK voters from the Labour and Conservative parties for unmoderated 10-minute conversations.
While empathy toward opposing viewpoints increased following the exchanges, this shift primarily occurred when the participants found common ground or agreed on certain points. In sessions marked purely by disagreement, empathy did not increase, and overall opinions remained unchanged across the participant pool.
Geo exclusively pairs individuals who hold opposing views—the exact scenario where the previous study observed the weakest positive impact. Nevertheless, willingness to converse across political lines did increase even among mismatched pairs, and this effect persisted for two to three weeks.
By contrast, platforms like X manage crowd validation differently through Community Notes, which only display publicly after receiving helpful ratings from a diverse mix of contributors with differing viewpoints. Geo has not disclosed whether its voting system accounts for the prior perspectives of viewers.
Additionally, hosting a debate requires two individuals willing to appear on camera, alongside curators to maintain supporting records. This model runs counter to broader internet trends highlighted by the Reuters Institute, which show a decline in active posting on social networks in favor of passive scrolling.
Split-screen video clips could also easily be edited down to showcase only a single perspective once shared outside of Geo. While Tal designed the application so that substantive arguments outlast temporary social feeds, the platform must first convince users to put down their phones, stop scrolling, and step in front of the camera.