A study published Wednesday in the journal Nature found that TikTok's algorithm systematically prioritized pro-Republican content in three states leading up to the 2024 US elections.

Researchers created hundreds of dummy accounts designed to mimic real user behavior by watching videos aligned with either Democratic or Republican parties. The study then tracked which videos TikTok's algorithm recommended on these accounts' For You pages, the platform's main content feed.

The findings indicated that the algorithm showed a preference for Republican-aligned content across the three states examined, though the study did not specify which states were included in the research.

TikTok disputed the study's methodology, stating that the research does not accurately reflect real user behavior on the platform. The company has not provided detailed comments on the specific findings or the researchers' conclusions.

The study adds to ongoing debates about social media algorithms and their potential influence on political content distribution during election periods. Questions about algorithmic bias on major platforms have become increasingly prominent as these services play larger roles in how users consume political information.