POLICY BRIEF Influencers and Their Ability to Engineer Collective Online Behavior

of influencer impact, exploring both positive and neg- ative consequences, and proposing strategies to mit- The Use and Abuse of Algorithms igate potential risks while harnessing the benefits of The true power of influencers extends beyond their influencer engagement in political discourse. [...] 23 | November 2024 5 POLICY BRIEF Influencers and Their Ability to Engineer Collective Online Behavior THE EFFECTS OF A CHANGED SOCIAL MEDIA ECOSYSTEM INFLUENCERS HAVE BECOME ALTERNATIVE In the current digital landscape, the role of legacy me- SOURCES OF TRUST dia continues to weaken. [...] 23 | November 2024 Influencers and Their Ability to E ngineer Collective Online Behavior POLICY BRIEF • Less cooperative platform owners: Elon Musk’s how quickly and effectively narratives can be shaped actions on X around the anti-immigration riots and propagated in our algorithmically driven social in the UK this summer20 and in the run-up to the media landscape. [...] Justice’s recent indictment of RT influence that illus- trates the vulnerability of a trust-based social media The universality of these tactics highlights both their ecosystem to exploitation.29 effectiveness and the challenges they pose for main- taining the integrity of public discourse. [...] • The concerted campaigns that are used to shape visibility and trends across platforms; and • Cross-platform impact: The ability of influencers to operate across multiple platforms extends their • The potential for both positive engagement and reach and impact beyond single audiences or demo- harmful manipulation.