Power asymmetries in the algorithmic formation of public opinion

In the following commentary, I reflect on the contemporary public sphere, considering how the algorithmic curation of information has transformed the formation of public opinion. I consider the ongoing transformations of the public sphere, some of the normative implications of these processes, and connect them to the concept of ‘algorithmic public opinion’, as introduced by Gandini, Keeling and Reviglio in this journal. Moving beyond neutral descriptions, I also draw attention to the deepening power asymmetries in these processes and highlight the growing influence of Big Tech, which will have to be incorporated into a genuinely critical framework.