The political effects of X's feed algorithm
A new study reveals X's algorithm profoundly shifts users' political views, making them more likely to prioritize Republican issues and hold pro-Trump stances. Surprisingly, these attitudinal changes persist even after the algorithm is turned off, indicating a lasting impact on user perspectives. This quantification of algorithmic influence serves as a wake-up call for civil society, underscoring the disproportionate power held by those controlling social media feeds.
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The Lowdown
This article discusses a significant study published in Nature that quantifies the political effects of social media feed algorithms, specifically focusing on X (formerly Twitter). It highlights how X's algorithm can profoundly influence users' political attitudes and beliefs.
- The study found that users transitioning from a reverse-chronological social media feed to X's algorithm experienced measurable shifts in their political priorities and beliefs.
- Specifically, these users were 4.7 percentage points more likely to prioritize policy issues favored by Republicans, such as inflation, immigration, and crime.
- They also became 5.5 percentage points more likely to believe that investigations into Donald Trump were unacceptable, viewing them as undermining democracy or an attack.
- A key and surprising finding was the persistence of these altered views: even after the algorithm was switched off, users' political attitudes did not revert, partly attributed to their increased following of conservative influencers.
- Although the percentage shifts might seem small, the author emphasizes that a 4.7% change is substantial enough to critically influence election outcomes.
- The study also suggests that X's algorithm might be uniquely predisposed to political manipulation compared to other platforms like Facebook or Instagram. The author concludes that these findings should be a "wakeup call" for politically engaged funders and anyone concerned about civil society. It underscores that whoever controls these algorithms holds immense power over public perception and the electorate's worldview, advocating for investment in open protocols, user-choice platforms, and greater algorithmic transparency.