Study links Musk’s presidential endorsement, algorithm shifts, and engagement increase on X

As tipped by the Verge, a recent computational analysis has uncovered potential algorithmic biases on X (formerly Twitter) during the 2024 US election. Conducted by researchers at Queensland University of Technology and Monash University, the study explored how Elon Musk’s July 2024 endorsement of Donald Trump coincided with a structural engagement shift across the platform.

Researchers first examined Musk’s engagement metrics, revealing significant postendorsement boosts in views, retweets, and likes compared to a baseline of prominent accounts. This included a 138 percent surge in views and a 237 percent spike in retweets for Musk’s posts. Researchers detected a potential algorithmic adjustment disproportionately amplifying Musk’s visibility.

Phase Two focused on Republican- and Democrat-aligned accounts. While both groups saw increased engagement following structural breaks on 12 and 14 July, Republican-leaning accounts experienced a distinct nearly one-million-view advantage over their Democratic counterparts postchange. This disparity was observed in the visibility of content (views), while retweets and likes showed no evidence of political bias.

The findings suggest that systemic adjustments may have prioritized content aligned with certain political leanings, raising concerns over platform neutrality during a critical election year. Musk, with billions in federal contracts, will now also lead the unofficial Department of Government Efficiency under the Trump administration.