Why didn't we see any 'flame wars' on X during this election?

How was your X timeline during the recent House of Representatives election?

Honestly, I was underwhelmed. I missed that exchange of extreme words I usually see every election. The endless 'flame wars' between people with different political affiliations. The sight of videos capturing someone's slip of the tongue being reposted tens of thousands of times, filled with angry comments. This time, I barely saw any of that.

Some of you might think, 'Isn't it nice that it's peaceful?' I felt that way at first, too. But working in a medical setting where I deal with people's hearts and minds, I can't help but worry about what lies behind the 'silence.' Did this calmness arrive in a form we truly desired? Or is it the result of someone adjusting things to 'make it look that way'?

Today, why don't we think together about the true nature of that 'quiet election'?

The fact that anger 'stopped reaching us'

To put it simply, there is a clear reason for the silence this time. The X algorithm has changed significantly.

Until now, social media has been driven by 'anger,' for better or worse. According to data released by an MIT research team, false information spreads about six times faster than the truth. Why? Because when people feel anger or anxiety, they are driven by an impulse to 'tell someone about this.' Our human brains are wired to notify our peers when we detect danger. Social media algorithms have skillfully exploited that instinct.

Posts that evoke anger get more replies. If replies increase, the system judges that the topic is 'trending' and displays it on more people's timelines. Once displayed, someone else gets angry. This 'anger amplification circuit' was running at full capacity every election.

However, this time, X intentionally blocked this circuit. Posts containing negative emotional expressions or controversial keywords became less likely to appear in 'For You.' The more extreme the content, the less it reached people.

The exit of the 'impression zombies'

There is another change that cannot be overlooked. The disappearance of those 'opportunistic accounts' that used to pop up every election.

X has a monetization system, so if your posts are viewed a lot, you make money. That's why some people, regardless of their political beliefs, just jumped on 'topics that might go viral.' AI-generated information of unknown authenticity, videos of someone's remarks maliciously clipped—they would post anything that could stir up anger. They were called 'impression zombies'.

With this algorithm change, it seems such posts are no longer eligible for monetization or have become a factor that lowers an account's rating. If the financial incentive is gone, they withdraw. It's a natural consequence, isn't it?

This is actually similar to how we distinguish between 'symptoms' and 'causes' in the medical world. The chaos on the timeline was the 'symptom,' and behind it were the 'algorithms that amplify anger' and the 'people trying to make money from it' as the 'causes.' This time, because both of those causes were addressed, the symptoms improved dramatically.

Community Notes as a 'deceleration device'

Another thing that is having an effect is the evolution of Community Notes.

For those who don't know, this is a feature that allows X users to add 'background information' to posts. For example, a note might be added saying, 'This video is from five years ago and is unrelated to this election.' Traditionally, the biggest problem with fact-checking has been 'speed.' If you correct a rumor by saying 'that was a lie' after it has already reached tens of thousands of people, it is too late. It is like a fire truck arriving after the fire has already spread.

But with the current algorithm, posts with Community Notes have their reach significantly suppressed. In a sense, it has become a mechanism where the sprinklers turn on before the fire spreads. Because sensational posts are now 'slowed down before they go viral,' that kind of explosive backlash has become harder to trigger.

But is this really a good thing?

Reading this far, you might have thought, 'Wait, isn't this all good news?' The cycle of anger has stopped, the spread of misinformation has been suppressed, and malicious accounts seeking profit have been pushed out. That is wonderful.

But I find myself unable to be happy about it without reservation.

That is because this 'silence' has another side to it. It is the face of 'the completion of division.'

As a result of the algorithm becoming too smart, there is a possibility that we are only encountering people with opinions similar to our own. Only right-leaning posts appear on the timelines of right-leaning people, and only left-leaning posts reach those on the left. Previously, there was a method of intentionally displaying opposing opinions to gain engagement. That was problematic in its own way, but at least it provided an opportunity to know that 'different opinions exist.'

Now, even that conflict does not occur. This is because, in the first place, different opinions do not enter our field of vision. The timeline looks 'quiet' not because the storm has passed, but perhaps because we have simply become invisible to one another.

Inside a 'comfortable cage'

In psychology, the phenomenon of being surrounded only by opinions similar to one's own is called an 'echo chamber.' A room where your own voice just echoes back at you. You cannot hear the sounds from outside.

We may now be in a more comfortable echo chamber than ever before. We are not being incited to anger, we are not seeing unpleasant opinions, and we can continue to believe what we want to believe. That is certainly a form of 'peace of mind.'

But at the same time, it also means that the opportunity for 'dialogue with different opinions,' which is necessary for democracy, is being lost.

I am not saying that we should go back to the chaotic timelines of the past. That was harmful in its own way. I just feel that it is dangerous to assume that the current 'silence' is proof that the problem has been solved. The problem may not have been solved; it may have just become invisible.

What we can do

So, what should we do? Honestly, there is no easy answer. But there is one thing that is certain. It is the importance of realizing that 'your timeline is not the whole world.'

The scenery you see on social media is edited by an algorithm. The 'quiet world' you are seeing and the 'quiet world' the person next to you is seeing might be completely different things. That is why, from time to time, you should consciously try to step outside your 'bubble.' Try engaging with different media. Try talking to people with different opinions in real life.

It is a hassle, and sometimes you will have unpleasant experiences. But when we completely eliminate that 'hassle' or 'unpleasantness,' we might be losing our 'connection' in the true sense of the word.

I think the 'silence' of this election was a turning point. One could interpret it as the end of the era of anger and the arrival of a peaceful era. But I see it as the beginning of an era where division is complete and we have become invisible to each other.

Which interpretation is correct is up to us from here on out. At the very least, we should not stop thinking just because it is quiet. Isn't that the first step we can take right now?

#SNSandDemocracy #EchoChamber #InformationLiteracy #Algorithm #2026LowerHouseElection