[gizmo686]

>It is their algorithms that determine what speech we come across.

Even without deliberate attempts to manipulate these algorithms to shape public discourse, I wonder what effect the algorithms themselves have. For example, a major feature of these algorithms is to show people what they want to see. The algorithms may determine this based on the individuals history, which already has implications for public discourse, but they could also take into account what similar individuals like.

They could also have a systematic bias. For example, they may consider links from external sites to be a positive indicator. This would prefer internet cultures where each participant has their own site over similar cultures where each participant has an account on a larger site.