Platform algorithms are often presented as neutral tools for organising information, yet they are designed to serve a commercial purpose: maximising engagement, retention, and advertising revenue. In doing so, they play an increasingly influential role in shaping what people see online, which voices gain prominence, and which narratives dominate public debate.

 

This panel examines how the economics of attention can shape the information environment and create vulnerabilities for democratic societies. Monetisation-driven algorithms can reward content that provokes strong emotional reactions, fuels polarisation, or spreads misleading narratives, while creating opportunities for disinformation actors and informational autocracies to exploit these dynamics. Algorithmic amplification therefore raises broader questions about the resilience of democratic information spaces and the role of platforms in shaping them.

 

The discussion will consider whether platform accountability should extend beyond content moderation to the recommendation and monetisation systems that determine what reaches audiences at scale. It will also explore how journalists and researchers can investigate these systems, uncover the incentives behind algorithmic amplification, and push for greater transparency and accountability in an information environment increasingly shaped by commercial algorithms.