Marketplace Tech
On Instagram, politics is the new taboo
Oct 23, 2024
In this episode, tech columnist Jeffrey Fowler from the Washington Post delves into the evolving landscape of political discourse on social media. He discusses how content creators struggle with engagement when addressing political topics on Instagram, often facing algorithmic penalties that reduce visibility. Fowler highlights the challenges of censorship, particularly around sensitive keywords like 'vote.' The conversation uncovers the broader implications of these dynamics on civic education and the overall health of public discourse.
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Quick takeaways
- Social media creators are experiencing drastic visibility reductions when they post about political issues, leading to widespread algorithmic anxiety and frustration.
- Meta's decision to deprioritize political content without clear guidelines is hindering creators' ability to educate audiences on crucial social topics.
Deep dives
The Challenge of Political Content
Creators are experiencing significant visibility drops on social media platforms when discussing political topics. A notable example is a content creator who found her audience reduced by 63% when using the word 'vote' in her posts. This decline occurs despite the high engagement her political content receives, indicating a disconnect between the content's popularity and its visibility. As a result, creators are increasingly anxious about how their posts are perceived by algorithms, leading to a phenomenon known as algorithmic anxiety.
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