Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) believes social media algorithms are a major reason for the growing political divide across the United States.
During an Instagram Live session on Sunday, Ocasio-Cortez said the country’s media environment has shifted dramatically in recent years — and that the changes in social media platforms are shaping how people think and interact politically.
“I do believe our media landscape has changed dramatically,” she said. “And the social media landscape has changed dramatically, even since 2020 — in just the last couple of years — in ways that are very hard for people to understand.”
According to the congresswoman, the U.S. isn’t just politically divided — it’s now “algorithmically polarized.”
She made these remarks while discussing how online videos and images of protests in cities like Los Angeles and Portland during the Trump administration often painted misleading narratives. Ocasio-Cortez said algorithms have created echo chambers where people only see information that supports their existing beliefs.
“It is hard for folks to understand the broader landscape of public opinion,” she explained. “There are people living in a MAGA universe online, where their algorithms constantly feed them content that reinforces their worldview.”
The lawmaker added that this problem exists on both sides of the political spectrum. “That happens as well in progressive content and algorithms,” she said.
Social media’s role in deepening polarization has long been a concern for lawmakers. In recent years, Congress has held multiple hearings with Big Tech executives to examine how recommendation systems influence users’ political opinions.
Ocasio-Cortez suggested that the best way to counteract algorithmic division is through community engagement and personal storytelling, rather than relying solely on policy arguments.
“Oftentimes, the things that persuade people aren’t just facts or policy,” she said. “It’s also about psychology and community.”
By encouraging more direct communication and empathy, Ocasio-Cortez said Americans might begin to bridge the growing political gaps that social media algorithms have helped to widen.