Twitter has published a study that finds its platform promotes right-leaning content, yet it’s not sure why it’s happening. As with most social networks, what people typically see when they open Twitter is driven by an algorithm - a complex set of instructions finely tuned to deliver just the right content to keep users in the app for as long as possible. Depending on the user, Twitter could show an array of cat memes, the latest sports results, or a politically charged post that’s just demanding a Retweet. Algorithms are the engagement engine of the social web.

Much has been made recently of how social media companies deploy their algorithms and their impact on users. For example, Facebook has come under fire by some in the US Senate for the way its News Feed algorithm reportedly affects teenagers with body issues and drives online hate. Over on TikTok, creators have long complained the app is programmed to shy away from certain content, effectively “shadowbanning” accounts.

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Twitter’s study has found that its default Home feed, which shows recommended posts, disproportionately amplifies right-leaning Tweets and content over those from left-leaning media outlets and politicians. The research, carried out by Twitter’s ML Ethics, Transparency and Accountability (META) team, examined millions of Tweets from lawmakers and news websites across seven countries, including Canada, Germany, and the United States. META says the point of the research was to help Twitter better understand what kinds of content its algorithm promotes rather than why. Speaking with Protocol, Twitter’s Director of Software Engineering Rumman Chowdhury notes the reason for the amplification could be user-driven, but it is clear to state the META team is yet to determine if that is the case. As Chowdhury explains, the company “can’t model for how individuals or groups of people will use Twitter.”

More Research Needed

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META suggests algorithmic amplification in itself is not a problem but notes any bias within the algorithm that directly leads to certain kinds of content reaching more people would be problematic. At this point, Twitter is still some way away from knowing whether it has an issue with its algorithm or not. The META team says they intend to do further studies to better understand why right-leaning content is better at reaching Twitter users.

META notes Twitter’s reverse-chronological feed - which shows posts in time order - did not have the same impact as the Home feed. The researchers did not speculate on why the difference occurs, but the revelation comes after Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen testified to the Senate that time-ordered posts would likely be better for social media users. META has more work to do, but it says it will share aggregated data with third parties who want to replicate the study. If Twitter continues to be as open about its algorithms, research, and findings, it will be interesting to see if Facebook follows suit.

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Source: TwitterProtocol