Social media recommendation algorithms pose risks to democracy, but they can be improved, according to the Dutch Media Authority (Commissariaat voor de Media, CvdM). This conclusion follows an analysis of how online feeds affect users’ ability to form and express opinions freely. The regulator has issued recommendations to the government and policymakers on legislation and compliance.
In its report, “Towards Democratically Healthy Feeds,” published on Tuesday, the CVDM states that social media platforms are driven by revenue models. As a result, they tend to prioritise attention‑grabbing content, even when that content is unreliable or controversial. The watchdog also notes that users often have limited control over what appears in their feeds. At the same time, the political influence of platforms and users’ dependence on them are becoming more visible.
“Feeds have proven to be demonstrably risky for our democracy, while convenient,” the report states. “They influence and distort what we as citizens see and who we follow, and in current practice, they come at the expense of free and informed opinion formation.”
Route map
The regulator recommends that platform companies give users more control over what they view. It also calls for greater visibility of reliable information and more systematic measurement of the impact of these changes. The CvdM has developed a roadmap based on existing laws and regulations. It aims to help Dutch and European policymakers encourage or enforce improvements.
CvdM chair Amma Asante said the sector itself should, where possible, determine which sources are considered reliable. This should happen within the sector itself. “This is already happening, as journalists follow principles and codes designed to ensure quality,” she said.
Big Tech
The report on feeds is the first in a planned series examining digital platforms and Big Tech. Future studies will focus on the opinion power of platform companies and the digital advertising market.
@anp | NEWS BRAINPORT
