Study: AI Tool Reduces Political Polarization on X

Can algorithmic changes heal political divisions, or do they merely alter feeds without shifting deeply held beliefs?

Published 11 hours ago·Updated 4 hours ago

Study: AI Tool Reduces Political Polarization on X

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Above: The X app icon in the Apple store with the old X icon seen in the background, Brussels, on Aug. 24, 2025. Image credit: Jonathan Raa/NurPhoto/Getty Images

The Spin

Narrative A

Reducing exposure to antagonistic political content on social media dramatically decreases partisan hostility and negative emotions. Algorithmic interventions that limit divisive posts produce changes equivalent to three years of polarization shifts, offering platforms a clear solution to heal democratic discourse and rebuild social trust.

Science arXiv

Narrative B

While algorithms can control content visibility, they neither reshape beliefs nor decrease ideological division in a sustained or meaningful way. With the role of echo chambers and filter bubbles often far overstated, we must instead focus on the root causes of social tension to improve social discourse.

The University of Texas University of Oxford

Metaculus Prediction

Editor's Note

This story currently has limited reporting from right-leaning sources. We will continue to monitor all major outlets and update our coverage as additional perspectives become available.