Study: Small algorithmic changes to X's 'for you' feed can rapidly increase political polarisation
By
PaulHoule
Slow-proofed and worth the wait. Worth its weight in flour.
Summary
A research experiment found that small, barely perceptible changes to the tone of posts in X's "for you" feed can rapidly increase political polarisation. The study showed that boosting posts expressing anti-democratic attitudes and partisan animosity caused significant shifts in unfavourable feelings between Democrat and Republican supporters within just one week — an effect comparable to what would historically take at least three years of real-world exposure.
Key quotes
· 2 pulledSmall changes to the tone of posts fed to users of X can increase feelings of political polarisation as much in a week as would have historically taken at least three years, research has found.
A groundbreaking experiment to gauge the potency of Elon Musk's social platform to increase political division found that when posts expressing anti-democratic attitudes and partisan animosity were boosted, even barely perceptibly, in the feeds of Democrat and Republican supporters there was a large change in their unfavourable feelings towards the other side.
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