Small changes to ‘for you’ feed on X can rapidly increase political polarisation

The GuardianThursday, November 27, 2025 at 7:00:43 PM
Small changes to ‘for you’ feed on X can rapidly increase political polarisation
  • A recent study indicates that minor adjustments to the political content in the 'for you' feed on X can lead to significant increases in political polarization among users within just a week, a shift that historically would have taken three years. The research highlights how even subtle boosts to posts with anti-democratic sentiments can alter users' perceptions of opposing political groups.
  • This finding is critical for X, as it underscores the platform's potential role in exacerbating political divisions, particularly under the influence of its owner, Elon Musk, who has been noted for engaging with fringe political topics.
  • The implications of these changes extend beyond individual user experiences, raising concerns about the broader impact of social media on democratic discourse and the integrity of political engagement, especially as transparency features reveal the international origins of influential political accounts, complicating the narrative around domestic political movements.
— via World Pulse Now AI Editorial System

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