What Algorithms Actually Do (and Why That Matters)
Algorithms are designed to keep users engaged. They learn what makes you pause, react, comment, or share – and then they show you more of that.
The problem is that engagement doesn’t equal accuracy or balance. Content that triggers strong emotions like anger, fear, or outrage is more likely to spread. Over time, this creates personalised feeds that amplify certain views while quietly filtering out others.
This isn’t always intentional manipulation. But it does mean that political content is no longer distributed equally. Visibility is earned through performance, not importance.
From Feeds to Filter Bubbles
One of the biggest risks is the creation of filter bubbles. When algorithms repeatedly show us content that aligns with our existing beliefs, opposing viewpoints slowly disappear from view.
The result? Political polarization without conversation. Instead of debate, we get parallel realities. Democracy depends on shared facts and public dialogue – but algorithms often fragment that shared space.
For Gen Z, this can mean growing up politically informed, but not necessarily politically exposed to difference.
AI, Micro-Targeting, and Political Influence
AI doesn’t just recommend videos, it also shapes political messaging. Political actors and campaigns can tailor messages to specific age groups, interests, or emotional triggers. What one student sees as a “neutral post” might be a carefully optimized political message designed just for them.
This raises a key democratic question: How free is political choice when attention itself is being guided?
When persuasion becomes invisible, accountability becomes harder.
Why This Matters for Democracy
Democracy doesn’t only rely on voting. It relies on informed choice, transparency, and a shared understanding of reality.
If Gen Z’s political knowledge is increasingly filtered through opaque systems, then democratic participation risks becoming passive. Not because people don’t care – but because they don’t see the full picture.
This isn’t about banning technology or rejecting AI. It’s about understanding its role.
How Algorithms Are Already Shaping Politics in Europe
Disinformation networks during the 2024 European Parliament elections
In the lead-up to the 2024 European Parliament elections, researchers and journalists uncovered coordinated disinformation networks operating across major social media platforms in countries such as France, Germany, and Italy. These networks did not rely on a single viral post, but instead flooded platforms with large volumes of misleading or manipulative political content, exploiting algorithms designed to boost engagement. As reported by The Guardian, the scale and coordination of these campaigns meant that misleading narratives were repeatedly amplified, often drowning out factual reporting and legitimate political debate. Rather than persuading users directly, the strategy relied on overwhelming the information space, showing how algorithmic amplification can quietly distort what political conversations look like online – and which voices are most visible.
TikTok’s recommendation system and political visibility in Germany
Algorithmic influence does not always appear as explicit disinformation. In Germany, research cited by WIRED revealed that TikTok’s recommendation system frequently suggested content related to the far-right party AfD to young users, even when they searched for mainstream political parties or neutral political topics. This pattern raised concerns not because users were actively seeking extremist content, but because the platform’s algorithm appeared to steer attention in specific directions. The case illustrates how political visibility can be shaped subtly through recommendation systems, where certain parties or narratives gain disproportionate exposure – not through votes or public debate, but through algorithmic optimisation.
Young voters, social media, and elections in the EU
According to research published by the European Parliament, social media platforms have become the primary gateway to political information for many young Europeans. Rather than accessing political news through official party channels, television, or newspapers, young voters increasingly encounter political content through algorithmically curated feeds. This means that exposure to political ideas is shaped less by civic institutions and more by opaque platform systems that prioritise engagement. The report highlights a structural shift: for a significant portion of Europe’s youth, democratic participation begins not in public forums, but in personalised digital environments where visibility, repetition, and recommendation play a decisive role in shaping political awareness.
