Four new studies complicate the narrative around abolishing algorithms on Meta Platforms, Inc (NASDAQ: META) Facebook, and Instagram, to prevent misinformation and political division. The research studies from multiple institutions found that removing some algorithm functions had no measurable effects on people’s political beliefs, the New York Times reports.
However, political news consumption on the platforms was highly segregated by ideology, with false news articles drawing more conservative readers during the 2020 election. The research, published in Science and Nature, offers a nuanced understanding of social media’s impact but raises questions about its role in shaping discourse.
