A recent study conducted by Sitra, the Behavioural Insights Team, and Bondata, highlights the influence of social media algorithms on the information environments of young Europeans, revealing a strong bias towards right-wing content. The findings indicate that a staggering 58% of all political content encountered by young users aged 18-24 on platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, and X is right-leaning, with only 26% being leftist and 16% centrist. This bias persists even when the avatars used expressed interest in leftist politics, suggesting that the algorithms prioritize right-leaning content regardless of the users' stated preferences.

Additionally, the emotional impact of political discussions on social media is significant, with half of the young respondents reporting feelings of disappointment, fear, anger, or sadness while engaging with political content online. This emotional distress was consistent across all countries studied, including Finland, France, and Romania. The implications of this study suggest that social media platforms not only shape political discourse among youth but also contribute to their emotional well-being by heavily influencing the types of political content they are exposed to.

Overall, the report raises critical questions about algorithm transparency and the responsibility of social media platforms to provide a balanced view of political content, as the overwhelming presence of right-wing material could skew political perceptions and discourse among young users across Europe.