Fig. 4: ITT estimates of feed-setting changes on accounts that users follow.
ITT effect estimates of switching the algorithm on and off (in s.d.). Left, effect of moving from the chronological to the algorithmic feed for users initially on the chronological feed. Right, effect of moving in the opposite direction for users initially on the algorithmic feed. For each outcome, the results of two specifications are reported. Blue, unconditional estimates with robust s.e. values, controlling only for the initial feed setting and, where applicable, pre-treatment outcome levels. Orange, conditional estimates, controlling for pre-treatment covariates using GRFs. Point estimates and 90% and 95% CIs are reported. Numerical effect sizes and P values correspond to conditional estimates (all tests are two-sided). The unit of observation is respondent. The sample size is n = 2,387 for all estimates. Tests are described in Methods. Supplementary Information Table 2.16 reports the exact numerical point estimates, s.e. values, CIs and sample sizes for every specification. All outcomes are standardized. Additional results are presented in Supplementary Information section 2.
