Between 2010 and 2025, algorithms stepped into the spotlight, reshaping how political stories spread through global media. Journalism and political communication now lean heavily on digital platforms, where algorithms call the shots on what gets seen, shared, or buried. This article looks at how the rise of algorithmic power crosses paths with media, politics, and the law. It’s changed the old model of journalistic gatekeeping, shaped how people talk about democracy, influenced foreign policy messaging, and played a hand in forming public opinion.

The paper digs into how big platforms use algorithmic recommendation systems, ranking tools, and automated moderation, not just for user experience, but in high-stakes arenas like elections, global conflicts, and international diplomacy. It also takes a close look at the patchwork of laws trying to keep up: the EU’s Digital Services Act and GDPR, U.S. platform liability rules, and stricter information control in authoritarian states. Through qualitative and comparative analysis, the article shows that these algorithmic systems tend to tip the narrative balance toward political power and business interests, while old-school journalistic values often get sidelined.

The findings are a bit of a mixed bag. Sure, algorithms make things quicker and more personalized. But they also drive polarization, chip away at editorial independence, and run up against current legal standards. In the end, the article calls for tougher oversight, more transparency in how algorithms work, and keeping humans, real journalists, in the loop to protect democracy in our digital world.