Researchers Find TikTok Algorithms Favor NYC Mamdani Campaign

Several studies and analyses have found that TikTok's algorithm appears to systematically promote content favoring Zohran Mamdani, a socialist candidate in the New York City mayoral race, while suppressing content related to his opponent, former Mayor Andrew Cuomo. Yehonatan Dodeles, CTO of Spring AI, reported that political content on TikTok receives a significantly higher rate of algorithmic boosting, with Mamdani-related videos receiving disproportionate promotion compared to Cuomo's, potentially influencing voter perception. This phenomenon, termed "algorithmic steering," was identified through deep reverse-engineering of TikTok's recommendation system, revealing that about 55% of political videos experience excessive promotion, far above the baseline for other topics. TikTok denies these allegations, calling the claims a deliberate attempt to push a political agenda through a flawed study. The findings have raised concerns about the role of social media platforms in shaping political discourse and the fairness of digital content distribution in elections.