SAN FRANCISCO: If you’ve been curious about why your X feed shows a particular type of content, Elon Musk has explained it. In a post on Monday, the billionaire provided insights into how the platform’s algorithm works.
The X algorithm functions on a straightforward principle: “If you interact with content, you want to see more of it.” Your engagement, such as likes, comments, and shares, directly impacts the algorithm’s choices in curating your feed.
Musk highlighted one of the algorithm’s strongest signals—sharing content. “When you forward X posts to friends, the algorithm assumes you really like that content, as forwarding takes effort,” he wrote. This means that sharing a post signals a strong endorsement to the algorithm, leading to more similar content appearing in your feed.
However, Musk acknowledged a flaw in this logic. He noted that the algorithm doesn’t grasp the intent behind interactions, particularly if driven by negative emotions. “Unfortunately, if you share content because it outraged you, we’re not yet smart enough to recognize that,” he admitted.
In a follow-up post, Musk expressed his support for freedom of speech. “I like content that supports freedom of speech,” he stated, adding, “Long live X. Long live freedom of speech.”
Taking it further, he quipped, “I’ll cage fight the dictator in Brazil if I have to,” referring to Brazil’s Chief Justice Alexandre de Moraes. Musk has previously labeled Moraes a “tyrant” and “dictator.”
Their feud began in April when Musk announced plans to unsuspend accounts linked to the 2023 Brazilian Congress attack, defying a court order. In response, Moraes launched an investigation into Musk, accusing him of spreading fake news, obstructing justice, and inciting criminal activities. He also ordered Brazilian internet providers to block X, imposed daily fines for users bypassing the ban with VPNs, and froze Starlink’s finances in Brazil. Musk fired back, accusing Moraes of undermining democracy and using X to criticize the judge’s actions.
