Facebook's News Feed Algorithm

Facebook's News Feed Algorithm is the most powerful misinformation distribution system ever built, connecting 3 billion people while systematically amplifying divisive content. The 2021 Facebook Papers revealed that internal research showed the algorithm pushed users toward extremist groups and that Instagram harmed teenage girls' mental health—findings the company suppressed. The algorithm maximised engagement by prioritizing inflammatory and misleading content, as it generated more clicks and comments. Outperforming #2 TikTok in sheer reach, it manipulated user attention more effectively than any prior platform, with suppressed data indicating 64% of extremist group joins originated from algorithmic recommendations.