Social media use falls if algorithm-based feeds removed, study finds


Removing algorithm-based feeds reduces the amount of time users spend on social media platforms but does not change people's political attitudes, a new study as found. — Photo: Rolf Vennenbernd/dpa

DUBLIN: Social media platforms have long been criticized for using opaque algorithms that dictate what users see on their feeds.

But according to research published by the journal Science and backed by Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, removing algorithm-based feeds only causes users to reduce the amount of time they spend on the platforms.

"The notion that such algorithms create political 'filter bubbles,' foster polarization, exacerbate existing social inequalities, and enable the spread of disinformation has become rooted in the public consciousness," according to the researchers, who were led by Andrew M. Guess of Princeton University.

Keeping user and algorithm apart, however, "did not change" peoples' political attitudes, knowledge and offline behaviours, they found, suggesting that when account holders encountered views at odds with their own, they were inclined to just stop scrolling and do something else.

The study sought to "examine the effect of algorithmic feed-ranking systems on individuals' political attitudes and behaviors as related to the US presidential election in 2020."

The vote was widely described as reflecting an increasingly-polarized US, with supporters of incumbent Donald Trump and challenger Joe Biden finding little common ground.

However, in a separate paper published by Science, a team of researchers led by the University of Pennsylvania's Sandra González-Bailón found that such "siloing" was in part driven by algorithm-driven Facebook feeds and the sharing of posts, with Trump supporters seen as more likely to be "ideologically segregated" than Biden backers.

"Our analyses highlight that Facebook... is substantially segregated ideologically – far more than previous research on internet news consumption based on browsing behavior has found," the researchers said. – dpa

Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!
   

Next In Tech News

Sirius XM found liable in New York lawsuit over subscription cancellations
US Supreme Court tosses case involving securities fraud suit against Facebook
Amazon doubles down on AI startup Anthropic with $4 billion investment
Factbox-Who are bankrupt Northvolt's creditors?
UK should use new powers to probe Apple-Google mobile browser duopoly, report says
EU regulators scrap probe into Apple's e-book rules after complaint was withdrawn
Hyundai recalls over 145,000 electrified US vehicles on loss of drive power
'World of Warcraft' still going strong as it celebrates 20 years
Northvolt CEO steps down, saying group needs up to $1.2 billion
Bitcoin at record highs, sets sights on $100,000

Others Also Read