George MonbiotFeb 23
Brainwashing, 2026 edition. This paper shows how X's algorithmic feed shifts people's views rightwards. It's a sophisticated, highly effective form of reorientation. And it is utterly chilling. If you're still on that platform, unhook yourself now. www.nature.com/articles/s41...

The political effects of X’s f...
The political effects of X’s feed algorithm - Nature

Among users initially on a chronological feed, 7 weeks of exposure to X’s algorithmic feed in 2023 shifted political attitudes and account-following behaviour in a more conservative direction compared with those remaining on a chronological feed, whereas switching the feed setting in the opposite direction, from algorithmic to chronological, had no effect.

Nature
Show threadRobotistry has moved

@georgemonbiot.bsky.social It hadn't occurred to me that social media algorithms are actually ratcheting mechanisms whose result is to nudge people towards conservative viewpoints that emphasize fear and rage.

Makes me even more thankful my social media feed doesn't include algorithms.

Feb 23 at 11:09amWeb