Journal article
“They’re trying to influence me to gain the more acceptable viewpoint”: The algorithmic imaginaries of politically activated social media users
New media & society, Vol.28(6), pp.2779-2798
06/2026
DOI: 10.1177/14614448251338502
Abstract
Links between extremism online and personalization algorithms are, by now, widely accepted. However, discussions surrounding sociopolitical radicalization and its relationship to filter bubbles often fail to account for user agency. Based on interview ( N = 29) and survey ( N = 1100) data, our study asks how politically engaged social media users make sense of algorithmic personalization related to political topics of interest. Our results indicate that most respondents conceptualize personalization as a functional process of social media platforms seeking to deliver relevant information, while a small but vocal number of users claim algorithms are designed not to personalize content but rather to enact an ideological agenda. Our findings, which include real-time user responses to algorithms, suggest that algorithms do not simply radicalize unsuspecting users but, rather, are negotiated to reveal a more complex digital landscape.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- “They’re trying to influence me to gain the more acceptable viewpoint”: The algorithmic imaginaries of politically activated social media users
- Creators
- Raven Maragh-Lloyd - Washington University in St. LouisRyan Stoldt - Drake UniversityJavie Ssozie - University of IowaKathryn Biddle - University of IowaBrian Ekdale - University of IowaTim Havens - University of Iowa
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- New media & society, Vol.28(6), pp.2779-2798
- DOI
- 10.1177/14614448251338502
- ISSN
- 1461-4448
- eISSN
- 1461-7315
- Publisher
- Sage
- Grant note
- Minerva FoundationCenter for Publics, Platforms and Personalization (CP3)
The authors would like to thank the reviewers and editor for their insightful feedback. We would also like to thank the Center for Publics, Platforms and Personalization (CP3) for their intellectual community and support.
- Language
- English
- Electronic publication date
- 05/22/2025
- Date published
- 06/2026
- Academic Unit
- Center for Social Science Innovation; School of Journalism and Mass Communication
- Record Identifier
- 9984824178202771
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