The social network X, formerly known as Twitter, is currently under close scrutiny regarding its recommendation algorithm. A recent survey reveals that the system favors posts from Donald Trump and his supporters while sidelining those of his political opponents, notably Kamala Harris. This phenomenon raises questions about algorithmic impartiality and the potential influence of this manipulation in the context of the 2024 American presidential election.
Algorithmic manipulation confirmed by Elon Musk
Elon Musk, the owner of the platform, has admitted to adapting the X algorithm to ensure better visibility for his tweets and those of Donald Trump. According to reports from the Wall Street Journal, it has been observed that the algorithm does not merely promote the business mogul’s messages but also highlights the content from all his supporters. This indicates a troubling trend towards the capture of political debates by pro-Trump biases, which is particularly pronounced during election periods.
A revealing study by the Wall Street Journal
In an effort to analyze the phenomenon, reporters from the Wall Street Journal initiated a study by creating 14 representative fictitious accounts, targeting regions deemed crucial for the election. These accounts, regularly active on the platform, primarily published content with no apparent connection to politics. However, the algorithms of X consistently recommended political content, the majority of which proved to be pro-Trump.
Unequal results in message dissemination
The study’s results highlighted a clear imbalance. Of the 14 accounts, 10 predominantly disseminated pro-Trump content in the “For you” tab, while supportive messages for Kamala Harris only dominated on one account. According to the analysis, pro-Trump tweets appeared twice as often as those supporting the other camp. This demonstrates an explicit use of algorithms to amplify a certain voice in the American political landscape.
The impact of informational biases
While the X algorithm seems designed to maximize user engagement, it also appears to have a significant influence on their opinions. David Chavalarias, a researcher at CNRS, emphasizes that the recommended content is capable of altering users’ decisions and judgments. Thus, the informational biases present in the X algorithm seem indeed to favor certain political ideologies while reducing the visibility of opposing opinions.
The importance of social networks in the electoral campaign
In this context, it is crucial to note that social platforms play a decisive role in the candidates’ strategies. Kamala Harris, for instance, has heavily invested in TikTok to mobilize her support. Conversely, Republicans, despite their expressed distrust of certain platforms, focus on X for their campaigns, taking advantage of the algorithmic biases to their benefit.
Meta and the treatment of Trump’s posts
Finally, on other social networks such as those of Meta, attempts have been made to ensure that all political voices have the same reach. Recently, Meta lifted the restrictions placed on Donald Trump, asserting that voters should be able to hear all candidates. This approach further highlights the importance of moderation and algorithms in public discourse while users remain the final arbiters of online political engagement but are confronted with potentially manipulated systems.
