A new study shows that X’s ‘For you’ algorithm promotes conservative content and demotes traditional media, effectively shifting users’ opinions.
To be frank it’s shifted my opinions even further left, the few times I’ve had to revisit that hellhole for something.
Fucking gross.
This has been true of all engagement-based algorithms since the beginning of social media.
Social media algorithms dont care if engagement is positive or negative. It just cares about generating engagement, and rage is phenomenal for generating engagement.
Prime example: Facebook 100% knew they were contributing to the genocide in Myanmar. They knew that their algorithm was pushing pro-genocide content to people because it got lots of engagement. They knew that they did not have enough Burmese speaking moderators to remove the content despite it being against the rules to promote genocide. They knew, and they didnt care, and they admitted as much in internal communications, that their algorithm was literally getting people killed. They were never held accountable and made lots of money on it.
Social media algorithms are a societal cancer, even when there is not intentional bad acting from those who control it.
Holy shit an article that actually links directly to document they’re referencing.
