Twitter’s algorithms may be amplifying the very controversial content that the platform and pro-censorship users are trying to limit.
New research suggests that Twitter users might be amplifying their tweets by dumping on them. New York University researchers reportedly examined Twitter content from members of the U.S. Congress and discovered how angry users targeting content they disagree with may actually be “cueing” the platform’s algorithms to amplify that content. The analysis “suggested that when users swarm tweets to denounce them with quote tweets and replies, they might be cueing Twitter’s algorithm to see them as particularly engaging,” MSNBC reported. MSNBC stated that this means more people may view the tweet than they would otherwise because of those who are piling on.
A Twitter internal study of news organizations and elected officials “in seven countries … found that in six of them” the “right-wing” sources and individuals were allegedly more amplified on Twitter than their “left-wing” counterparts. NYU researchers pointed to the Twitter phenomenon of “ratioing” for what might be driving the trend. MSNBC described “ratioing” as a tweet receiving more comments, or quote tweets and replies, than retweets. The researchers reportedly hypothesized that “right-wing politicians” are “ratioed” more on Twitter than left-wing politicians. The researchers said there is no “causal link” or definite proof that this theory is correct, however, MSNBC summarized.
It is especially surprising that this study was done considering that only 99 percent (99%) of all political donations made by Twitter employees went to Democrats. After Trump’s win, Twitter employees experienced meltdowns. Pew Research Center also conducted a 2019 survey that showed that Twitter users are younger than average and more inclined to identify as Democrats. And FiveThirtyEight reported back in 2017 that political Twitter “is no place for moderates,” as active tweeters are usually from the two political extremes.
Social media algorithms and online free speech have been a major political issue ever since leftist activist turned Facebook “whistleblower” Frances HaugenHer revelations began. The House and Senate have introduced a bipartisan bill that allows social media to be used without the use of algorithms. Haugen, along with several other senators, has called for more regulation and censorship on social media.
Twitter is known for being biased against conservatives multiple times. A Twitter account that claimed to track “[t]he best of what’s happening on Twitter in an instant” provided leftist content over conservative content at a six-to-one ratio. Twitter recently banned conservatives for allegedly “misgendering” the “transgender” Admiral Rachel Levine. In January 2021, Twitter removed then-President Donald Trump permanently from its platform. MRC NewsBusters reported in May 2020 on 33 instances of Twitter’s anti-conservative bias.
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