ChrisO_wiki
1/ X's algorithm was changed in mid-July 2024 to systematically boost Republican-leaning accounts and Elon Musk's own account following his endorsement of Donald Trump, according to a newly released computational study of engagement from the Queensland University of Technology (QUT). ⬇️
Nov 16, 2024 at 10:45amWeb
Show threadChrisO_wikiNov 16, 2024
2/ The study, by Professor Timothy Graham of the QUT and Professor Mark Andrejevic of Monash University, analysed 56,184 posts sent by a number of pro-Republican and pro-Democrat accounts between 1 January 2024 and 25 October 2024 and examined view counts, retweet counts, and favourite counts for each.
Show threadChrisO_wikiNov 16, 2024
3/ The analysis found "a structural break for Musk's metrics around July 13, 2024" following which his view counts increased by 138.27% and retweets increased by 237.94%, with a similarly large increase for favourites. This was far in excess of other accounts monitored.
Show threadChrisO_wikiNov 16, 2024
4/ The authors conclude that the results "indicate that Musk’s posts received a marked increase in visibility (view counts), amplification (retweet counts), and user interaction (favourite counts) that outpaced the general engagement trends observed across the platform. The unique post-change uplift for Musk's account suggests the possibility of algorithmic prioritisation or bias, positioning Musk's content favourably in terms of platform visibility and user engagement."
Show threadChrisO_wikiNov 16, 2024
5/ The analysis also found a large increase in view counts, retweet counts, and favourite counts, for Republican-leaning accounts, but not for Democrat-leaning ones. Again, the break point for this appears to be July 13, 2024, suggesting a platform-wide algorithmic change.
Show threadChrisO_wikiNov 16, 2024
6/ The authors conclude: "Republican accounts benefited from increased visibility or recommendation bias post-change. This could imply an algorithmic adjustment, potentially in the For You feed, designed to place certain content in front of more users, thus driving up views selectively for these accounts."
Show threadChrisO_wikiNov 16, 2024

7/ Musk made his endorsement of Trump on July 13, 2024. The analysis suggests that Musk did more than merely give verbal support for Trump, but also changed X's algorithm on the same date to systematically promote his own and other prominent pro-Republican acounts. /end

Source:
https://eprints.qut.edu.au/253211/

Show threadThe Enemy is WithinNov 16, 2024

@ChrisO_wiki

@georgelakoff @gilduran

⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️

Authoritarians are winning the communication war

⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️

https://mastodon.social/@Deixis9/113492253543761329

Show threadxs4me2Nov 17, 2024

@ChrisO_wiki

Manipulation…

Show threadxs4me2Nov 17, 2024

@ChrisO_wiki

And it does not even raise a scandal nowadays…

#Election2024 #manipulation #musk #trump

Show threadAquariusNov 16, 2024
@ChrisO_wiki
It's the algorithm, just like Facebook
Show threadjulfNov 16, 2024
@ChrisO_wiki Do you have a link to the actual document?
Show threadChrisO_wikiNov 16, 2024
@julf It's linked from the source link I posted at the end of the thread, but here it is anyway: https://eprints.qut.edu.au/253211/1/A_computational_analysis_of_potential_algorithmic_bias_on_platform_X_during_the_2024_US_election-4.pdf
Show threadjulfNov 16, 2024
@ChrisO_wiki Thanks!
Show threadel Celio 🇪🇺 🇺🇦Nov 16, 2024

@ChrisO_wiki
really, this shocked me.

I wouldn't have thought that he would have done something like this.
🙄

Show threadVesipeto VetehinenNov 16, 2024
@ChrisO_wiki this is, of course, unsurprising but really good to have analysis that backs it up.
Show threadRifferNov 16, 2024

@ChrisO_wiki I guess some legal rules disallow this.

And I am sure the new US administration will enforce this in the future....

ROTFLSTCBT

#usa #nazis #fascism

Show threadMastodon MigrationNov 16, 2024

@ChrisO_wiki

☝️ And if you don't think the Blockchain boys who are now Bluesky owners won't do the same thing on that platform just before the next election got a bridge to sell you.

Show threadLorraine LeeNov 16, 2024
@ChrisO_wiki I shall now refer to it as 1/X
Show threadBernhard HussNov 16, 2024
@ChrisO_wiki thanks for posting this !
Show threadあれくNov 17, 2024
@ChrisO_wiki conclusions aside, which I don't have reason to doubt especially, it feels a glaring omission this paper doesn't so much as mention july 13th was the assassination attempt
Show threadRandom GuyNov 17, 2024
@ChrisO_wiki This study appears to be making a huge leap to causation
Show threadSeb 🇺🇦Nov 17, 2024
@ChrisO_wiki