How does anyone know how the algorithm is bending perception of
people's posts?

I want a social network that shows a chronological list of posts from
people I choose to follow. Is that so hard?

Sort of like a BBS? ;) I am not certain why that is so difficult but it apparently is. I also like things in chronological order.

--- BgNet 1.0á12 - moe's tavern * 1-502-875-8938 * moetiki.ddns.net:27

I'm sure there's some editorial direction happening there - boosting
posts on one side of a political argument, dampening the other side's
posts, etc.

I am also sure of that. Which side may depend some on which platform.
There was a special on PBS a couple of years back about how (mostly)
TikTok was shadow banning people, not so much about politics (but some)
and more about being too old, too dark, and a few other things.

I believe it is much more likely that "the algorithms" are responsible for misinforming the public, more so than any foreign actors.

--- BgNet 1.0á12 - moe's tavern * 1-502-875-8938 * moetiki.ddns.net:27

Hit send too soon.

Interesting because there were so many arguments about Section 230 of
the Communications Decency Act, which grants online platforms immunity
from user-posted content - as long as they make a good-faith effort in
restricting offensive material.

It used to be that if a platform could argue that they didn't (or by
nature of the amount of content, couldn't) exert any editorial control
over their content, they could be found not liable, that they had
common carrier status. Cubby vs. Compuserve (1991) was a case that
resonated with BBSes back then.

IMHO, the algorithm is more than capable of editorial control and
exercises a level of it high enough that most social media platforms
should no longer be immune.

Their money will likely continue to make them so, though.
--- BgNet 1.0á12 - moe's tavern * 1-502-875-8938 * moetiki.ddns.net:27