Divided by the Algorithm? The (Limited) Effects of Content- and Sentiment-Based News Recommendation on Affective, Ideological, and Perceived Polarization

Recent rises in political polarization across the globe are often ascribed to algorithmic content filtering on social media, news platforms, or search engines. The widespread usage of news recommendation systems (NRS) is theorized to drive users in homogenous information environments and, thereby, drive affective, ideological, and perceived polarization. To test this assumption, we conducted an online experiment (n = 750) with running algorithms that enriches content-based NRS with negative or neutral sentiment. Our experiment finds only limited evidence for polarization effects of content-based NRS. Nevertheless, the time spent with an NRS and its recommended articles seems to play a crucial role as a moderator of polarization. The longer participants were using an NRS enriched with negative sentiment, the more they got affectively polarized, whereas participants using an NRS incorporating balanced sentiment ideologically depolarized over time. Implications for future research are discussed.

Automated summary

Recent increases in political polarization are often attributed to algorithmic content filtering on social media, news platforms, or search engines. News recommendation systems (NRS) are widely used and are believed to contribute to affective, ideological, and perceived polarization by creating homogenous information environments. In an online experiment with 750 participants, we tested this assumption by enriching a content-based NRS with negative or neutral sentiment. The findings show limited evidence for polarization effects of content-based NRS, but indicate that the time spent on the system and its recommended articles play a crucial role in moderating polarization. Participants who spent more time with an NRS enriched with negative sentiment became more affectively polarized, while those using a NRS incorporating balanced sentiment experienced ideological depolarization over time. Implications for future research are discussed.