[Ias-public] The Institute for Analytical Sociology Seminar: Marijn A. Keijzer, March 16, 14:30CET, KO301 & online on Zoom

[Madelene Töpfer]

The Institute for Analytical Sociology Seminar

Venue: KO301, Campus Norrköping & Online on Zoom (see Zoom link in the end of the email)


Thursday, March 16 @ 14:30CET

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The strength of weak bots

Marijn A. Keijzer
Institute for Advanced Study in Toulouse


Abstract:
Social media bots pose a threat to democratic societies. They may propagate falsehoods, influence public opinion formation and disturb democratic decision-making. But empirical evidence is mixed and presents a puzzle: a mismatch between macro-level patterns and micro-level behavior. On the one hand, there are large numbers of bots present on social media, and the content they promote spreads quickly and reaches far. On the other, bots' connectivity with human users tends to be limited and their direct impact seems marginal.
In this talk, I present the strength-of-weak-bots mechanism to resolve the bot effectiveness puzzle. Key to this mechanism is indirect influence. Bots with limited direct impact on humans may be more, not less, effective in spreading their views in the social network because their direct contacts keep exerting influence on users that the bot does not reach directly. I demonstrate the mechanism using a theoretical agent-based model that extends Axelrod's seminal model of the dissemination of culture with bot agents.


Topic: IAS Seminars
Join Zoom Meeting
https://liu-se.zoom.us/j/65535789369
Meeting ID: 655 3578 9369


Best regards
Madelene Töpfer
Administrator
[Linköping University]
Institute for Analytical Sociology
S-601 74 Norrköping
Phone: +46 (0)11-36 32 91
Mobile: +46 (0)700 89 66 97
Visiting address: Kopparhammaren 7, Kungsgatan 56D, Campus Norrköping
Please visit us at liu.se<https://liu.se/>

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