Algorithmic Visibility's Impact on Conspiracy Communities
Published:Dec 30, 2025 17:01
•1 min read
•ArXiv
Analysis
This paper investigates how algorithmic exposure on Reddit affects the composition and behavior of a conspiracy community following a significant event (Epstein's death). It challenges the assumption that algorithmic amplification always leads to radicalization, suggesting that organic discovery fosters deeper integration and longer engagement within the community. The findings are relevant for platform design, particularly in mitigating the spread of harmful content.
Key Takeaways
- •Algorithmic visibility acts as a selection mechanism, not just an amplifier, in conspiracy communities.
- •Users joining organically integrate more deeply and stay longer than those exposed via homepage.
- •Algorithmic exposure can limit organic growth and reshape community composition.
- •The study challenges the direct link between incidental exposure and durable radicalization in this context.
Reference
“Users who discover the community organically integrate more quickly into its linguistic and thematic norms and show more stable engagement over time.”