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Blogger Ben Werdmuller has discussed an article in Nature about the political impact of the algorithm(s) used by X (formerly known as Twitter). The gist is that the use of the algorithms against X's users tends to shift about 5% of them in a specific direction. That's more than enough to tip an election one way or another especially since the damage seems persistent and lasts even after exposure ceases.
Feed algorithms are widely suspected to influence political attitudes. However, previous evidence from switching off the algorithm on Meta platforms found no political effects. Here we present results from a 2023 field experiment on Elon Musk's platform X shedding light on this puzzle. We assigned active US-based users randomly to either an algorithmic or a chronological feed for 7 weeks, measuring political attitudes and online behaviour. Switching from a chronological to an algorithmic feed increased engagement and shifted political opinion towards more conservative positions, particularly regarding policy priorities, perceptions of criminal investigations into Donald Trump and views on the war in Ukraine. In contrast, switching from the algorithmic to the chronological feed had no comparable effects. Neither switching the algorithm on nor switching it off significantly affected affective polarization or self-reported partisanship. To investigate the mechanism, we analysed users' feed content and behaviour. We found that the algorithm promotes conservative content and demotes posts by traditional media. Exposure to algorithmic content leads users to follow conservative political activist accounts, which they continue to follow even after switching off the algorithm, helping explain the asymmetry in effects. These results suggest that initial exposure to X's algorithm has persistent effects on users' current political attitudes and account-following behaviour, even in the absence of a detectable effect on partisanship.
It should be added that the effect has already been seen in multiple countries. For example, the elections in Turkey were affected with outright censorship, within X. And the impact from the CPP's Bytedance's Tiktok is likely even more severe, not to mention multiple experiments in manipulation in Meta's properties like Facebook.
Journal Reference: Gauthier, G., Hodler, R., Widmer, P. et al. The political effects of X's feed algorithm. Nature (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-026-10098-2
Previously:
(2026) How Screwed is Generation Alpha, and the Generations Which Will Depend on Them?
(2025) European Union Orders X to Hand Over Algorithm Documents
(2024) Six Months Ago NPR Left Twitter. The Effects Have Been Negligible
(2023) Utah Sues Tiktok For Getting Children 'Addicted' To Its Algorithm
(2022) Leaked Documents Reveal Instagram Was Pushing Girls Towards Content That Harmed Mental Health
(2022) Musk Buying Twitter Is Not About Freedom of Speech
... and more
(Score: 3, Insightful) by DadaDoofy on Saturday February 28, @05:52PM (5 children)
No, the only thing I'm claiming is the editors here are hypocrites.
I don't think either side is bad for doing it. It's all free speech under our 1st amendment. In a free country, "manipulators" are free to make their pitch, while the citizens are given the respect to decide for themselves whether or not to buy it. As grownups, we don't need an authoritarian government to protect us from ourselves.
(Score: 1, Touché) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday February 28, @06:25PM (1 child)
> As grownups, we don't need an authoritarian government to protect us from ourselves.
Then please do explain why you accept (and even appear to demand) an authoritarian government.
(Score: 0, Flamebait) by DadaDoofy on Saturday February 28, @07:12PM
LOL When it's a government that puts the interests of the American people first, it's authoritarian, fascist and racist - run by a Nazi king. When it's a government that pretends it's run by a feeble brain-dead figurehead, but is actually controlled by an unseen cadre of deep-state actors with an autopen, it's "democracy".
(Score: 3, Touché) by janrinok on Saturday February 28, @08:15PM (1 child)
What has this got to do with the editors? They present the stories from user's submissions. If you want an alternative viewpoint you should try submitting a technically-linked story that reflects such a viewpoint.
The submitter of this story is taking part in this discussion.
[nostyle RIP 06 May 2025]
(Score: 2, Disagree) by janrinok on Saturday February 28, @08:25PM
Ooops, pressed the key too early, The submitter of this story is taking part in this discussion by presenting it to the community to garner their views. He hasn't given any political bias to support or refute the premise stated.
You are arguing one viewpoint, and someone else is arguing another. Isn't that the very reason for this site?
I am not sure what your comments have to do with algorithms on social media though...
[nostyle RIP 06 May 2025]
(Score: 2) by Tork on Saturday February 28, @09:20PM
Heh. So if an article about the lefty "Manipulators" comes along are you then going to balance it out by linking to an Elon story like this? I'm asking because lotsa ppl that whine about MDS are really just sensitive fans of his, and I don't actually know where you stand on that. He is a public-facing mover and shaker, after all.
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