Jonathan Liew Blasts X’s 15-Metric Algorithm Over Fake Quotes and Rightward Drift
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · May 28
Jonathan Liew Blasts X’s 15-Metric Algorithm Over Fake Quotes and Rightward Drift
1 articles · Updated · The Guardian · May 28
Jonathan Liew says X is awash with fabricated football quotes and other false content that still spreads widely because the platform rewards argument over accuracy.
X’s algorithm, which scores posts on 15 metrics, boosts replies and “debates,” he writes, pushing contentious material to more users and steering them into inflammatory content they did not seek.
A February study of 5,000 active X users found people shown the algorithmic “for you” feed were more likely to prioritize Republican-linked issues and take a pro-Russia stance on Ukraine than users on chronological feeds.
Liew argues progressives who remain on X help sustain the platform’s legitimacy, even as he says it has become an echo chamber of disinformation, abuse and racist content rather than a genuine digital town square.
When online platforms reward outrage and falsehoods, is logging off the only ethical choice?
If social media algorithms can irreversibly alter our worldviews, is regulation already too late?
With the digital town square now a 'dark forest,' what kind of communities can be built to replace it?
Algorithms, Misinformation, and Media Controversy: How X and The Guardian Shape Public Trust and Polarization in 2026
Overview
In March 2026, Jonathan Liew, a sports columnist for The Guardian, sparked major controversy after publishing a column about a new Gail’s Bakery in Archway, north London. He highlighted the bakery’s opening near Cafe Metro, a long-standing Palestinian-owned business, and shared his article on Bluesky with the message 'the war at home.' The piece quickly drew strong criticism, with many accusing Liew of downplaying antisemitism and shifting blame onto Jewish communities. Critics argued that his narrative redirected attention from real concerns about antisemitism, fueling a heated debate about media responsibility and cultural sensitivity.