Even if algorithms systematically select for hostile content, direct experimental tests of removing algorithmic ranking find no measurable e
Even if algorithms systematically select for hostile content, direct experimental tests of removing algorithmic ranking find no measurable effect on affective polarization, meaning the content-selection mechanism does not produce the predicted outcome.
The Guess et al. experiment switching users to chronological feeds substantially changed content exposure patterns but did not detectably change affective polarization, directly testing whether algorithmic content selection drives attitudes.
Experimentally reducing exposure to like-minded sources on Facebook did not reduce affective polarization, meaning even when the algorithm's hypothesized echo-chamber mechanism is disrupted, attitudes do not change.
Argument from Lack of Evidence (Negative Evidence)