Mark Cuban: Social media algorithms could determine election

Billionaire investor and television personality Mark Cuban on Monday argued social media algorithms will play a large role in the 2024 election, calling those who control the algorithms “the most influential positions in politics.”

“This seems to be to be a race where everyone’s frame of reference is influenced more by the narratives delivered by the algorithms we consume than the actual events themselves,” Cuban wrote in a post on X Monday. “Those algorithms evolve as new information, accurate or not, are posted. So none of us really have any idea how any event or reality will impact the Presidential and other important races this cycle.”

The “Shark Tank” star argued the current election cycle is being “driven” by artificial intelligence, which is often used to create recommendation algorithms on various social media platforms. Policy and personalities “mean nothing,” by contrast, Cuban said.

“The most influential positions in politics, is whoever controls the algorithms for each significant online platform,” he wrote. “The next most important positions, are the people at each campaign, who can figure out how to reverse-engineer the algos and use them to their advantage.”

One user responded to Cuban by asking him if it is possible for a candidate to win an election “solely based on their ability to manipulate” algorithms, without focusing on policy or personality.

Cuban said this was possible, writing in a separate post: “A candidacy that is expert at online algorithms and video production could win, if, the candidate is personable enough.”

He said a candidate would need to hire a staff of about 1,000 people to create nonstop videos that are “micro-targeted and tested for response,” while having a statistical analysis team to predict online trends.

Cuban has sounded the alarm in the past over how social media algorithms can reinforce extreme viewpoints and, in turn, fuel hate among its users. He is among the growing chorus of lawmakers, parents, and other public officials to also share the concern over how social media regulates political viewpoints.

In February, Cuban claimed the rise in racist sentiments on social media platforms are due to their algorithms.

He echoed this sentiment later Monday, stating the political implications of algorithms “are one thing,” while “the impact on our kids is terrifying.”

“These algorithms can have more impact on our children than we can,” he wrote.

Cuban has previously backed President Biden in the race against former President Trump, specifically defending the president for his handling of the economy.

Last month, Cuban clashed with television host Piers Morgan and billionaire Bill Ackman on social media over their criticism of Biden’s age and mental fitness.

“I’ll let you both in on a secret. BOTH CANDIDATES ARE OLD. VERY OLD. They both are going to have senior moments, mis-remember, forget things and have physical frailties,” Cuban wrote on X. “I’ll tell you a not so secret secret: One is great at soundbites, but also thinks in soundbites. The other is awful at soundbites, but thinks in complete sentences. Voters will decide which we prefer.”