Thoof is a new website (currently only accessible via invite) based around personalized news, which revolves around getting the news the system thinks you’ll like to you instead of just showing you the daily articles or whatever. TechCrunch reported that several other personalized news sites made this attempt and went deadpool, like Searchfox and Findory. TechCrunch reporter Michael Arrington reports that “I have my own reasons for explaining why, so far, these sites haven’t succeeded. I think people usually want to read news and then discuss it with friends. So what is considered “interesting” is influenced by what everyone else is consuming that day. People flock to the big news sites because everyone else flocks there, too, and the niche audiences that really want personalized news aren’t enough to sustain these startups.” The founder of Thoof disagrees, though, and thinks that Thoof will pull through in the end.
At Thoof, news is submitted in a Digg-like format. Users will see it if Thoof thinks it will be of interest to them, and can add/edit/remove things in a wiki-like fashion and then other users will see that change. Thoof determines what you like based around what links you click and read.
If you’re interested, submit your email address for an invite at Thoof.com.
