Recommendation algorithms operated by social media giants TikTok and X have shown evidence of substantial far-right political bias in Germany ahead of a federal election that takes place Sunday, according to new research carried out by Global Witness.
The non-government organization (NGO) undertook an analysis of social media content displayed to new users via algorithmically sorted “For You” feeds — finding both platforms skewed heavily toward amplifying content that favors the far-right AfD party in algorithmically programmed feeds.
Global Witness’ tests identified the most extreme bias on TikTok, where 78% of the political content that was algorithmically recommended to its test accounts, and came from accounts the test users did not follow, was supportive of the AfD party. (It notes this figure far exceeds the level of support the party is achieving in current polling, where it attracts backing from around 20% of German voters.)
What is the purpose of Tiktok to push far-right propaganda? Would it be possible that it all comes from far-right producing far more content?
The purpose is to destabilize.
Never blame on a conspiracy what is better explained by capitalism.
I think it’s a mix of these algorithms favouring things that get you to spend a lot of time on their apps and those things happen to be things like conspiracies, emotional appeals, and get rich quick schemes.
Think of a person that spends an unhealthy amount of time on social media. That’s their ideal user and they are constantly trying to funnel their users down paths that lead them into becoming that person.
That seems to be the most logical explanation, indeed.
Probably that the rise of fascism weekend the west.
At this point, there is no more “The West.”
“The Wild West,” maybe.