X algorithm boosts Musk, Republicans’ posts significantly

A study by Queensland University of Technology (QUT) reveals X’s algorithm may be favoring Elon Musk and conservative-leaning accounts following Musk’s endorsement of Donald Trump in July 2024.

The research indicates that Musk’s posts experienced significant increases in views and retweets after this endorsement, with a reported 138 percent rise in views and a 238 percent rise in retweets. The authors, Timothy Graham and Mark Andrejevic, observed that Musk’s post engagement sharply spiked starting around July 13, showing a notable deviation from general platform trends.

The study included a visualization highlighting the increased engagement of Musk’s posts compared to others. It suggested that X may have intentionally adjusted its algorithm to enhance Musk’s visibility.

Additionally, the research found similar boosts in engagement for other Republican-oriented accounts, though to a lesser extent than Musk’s. This is not the first instance of claims regarding potential bias in X’s algorithm toward right-leaning accounts.

Despite these findings, researchers noted limitations due to restricted access to X’s data, as the platform has limited its Academic API. They caution that while they don’t suspect missing data, the possibility remains that not all posts were captured in their analysis.