Fighting the Algorithm: The Uphill Battle of Reaching Australia

Building a political movement is never easy—but I never expected to be fighting against the very systems that claim to promote free speech and democratic engagement.

I entered this journey knowing that breaking into politics as an independent leader would be difficult. I knew I’d have to work harder than established parties, push through skepticism, and fight for recognition. But what I didn’t anticipate was just how much the system itself is designed to keep voices like mine from being heard.

26 Million People, Yet No Organic Reach

Australia has a population of 26 million people, yet somehow, despite running ads and publishing content regularly, my reach remains artificially restricted. I’ve been paying for advertising at 4 cents per view, which means I am directly putting my message in front of people. But despite paying for ads, YouTube refuses to recommend my videos organically.

This means that unless I pay indefinitely, my campaign is effectively invisible to Australians. YouTube’s algorithm should be surfacing my content to other concerned citizens, but instead, it’s locked behind a paywall. If I stop spending, the momentum stops.

This is not democracy in action—it’s algorithmic gatekeeping.

Google Won't Index My Campaign Posts

Beyond YouTube, I’ve also noticed that Google is failing to index my campaign posts properly. I’ve written extensively about the Emergence Party, electronic voting, AI-driven governance, and my vision for a better Australia, yet Google’s search engine refuses to surface my content when searching relevant terms.

For all the talk of information being freely available, the reality is that search engines and social media platforms curate visibility based on their own opaque rules. If you’re a major political party, a corporate-backed entity, or part of the mainstream system, you get pushed forward. If you’re an independent trying to challenge the status quo? Good luck being seen.

The System is Designed to Keep New Voices Out

Everything about this experience has reinforced one truth: The political system, and the digital infrastructure that shapes public discourse, are designed to keep new voices from breaking through.

If I want to reach Australians, I have to pay.

If I stop paying, I disappear.

If I write, my words get buried.

If I campaign, I am algorithmically silenced.

This is not how democracy should function. Every Australian should have equal access to information, ideas, and political alternatives—not just those who can afford to outspend the competition.

The Fight is Just Beginning

Despite the uphill battle, I refuse to stop. The Emergence Party exists because the system is broken, and my struggles to be heard only prove why change is necessary.

We need a fairer playing field, a reformed digital landscape, and a political system that allows new leaders to emerge without being suffocated by algorithms and corporate interests.

I’m going to keep pushing forward. I’m going to keep creating content, engaging with the people who find my message, and challenging this system.

If you believe in a democracy that actually listens to its people, I need your help. Share my work, spread the word, and help push this message forward—because the system sure isn’t going to do it for us.

🔗 Join the movement at wendellsdiary.com