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Opinions Manipulation: Media, Power And Gossip

Author

Listed:
  • WALTER QUATTROCIOCCHI

    (Department of Mathematics and Computer Sciences, University of Siena, Italy)

  • ROSARIA CONTE

    (LABSS, CNR – Institute of Cognitive Sciences and Technologies, Rome, Italy)

  • ELENA LODI

    (Department of Mathematics and Computer Sciences, University of Siena, Italy)

Abstract

Despite the increasing diffusion of the Internet technology, TV remains the principal medium of communication. People's perceptions, knowledge, beliefs and opinions about matters of fact get (in)formed through the information reported on by the media.However, a single source of information (and consensus) could be a potential cause of anomalies in the structure and evolution of a society.Hence, as the information available (and the way it is reported) is fundamental for our perceptions and opinions, the definition of conditions allowing for a good information to be disseminated is a pressing challenge. In this paper starting from a report on the last Italian political campaign in 2008, we derive a socio-cognitive computational model of opinion dynamics where agents get informed by different sources of information. Then, a what-if analysis, performed through simulations on the model's parameters space, is shown. In particular, the scenario implemented includes three main streams of information acquisition, differing in both the contents and the perceived reliability of the messages spread. Agents' internal opinion is updated either by accessing one of the information sources, namely media and experts, or by exchanging information with one another. They are also endowed with cognitive mechanisms to accept, reject or partially consider the acquired information.

Suggested Citation

  • Walter Quattrociocchi & Rosaria Conte & Elena Lodi, 2011. "Opinions Manipulation: Media, Power And Gossip," Advances in Complex Systems (ACS), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 14(04), pages 567-586.
    • Handle: RePEc:wsi:acsxxx:v:14:y:2011:i:04:n:s0219525911003165
    DOI: 10.1142/S0219525911003165
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Jan Lorenz, 2007. "Continuous Opinion Dynamics Under Bounded Confidence: A Survey," International Journal of Modern Physics C (IJMPC), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 18(12), pages 1819-1838.
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    Cited by:

    1. Petter Törnberg, 2018. "Echo chambers and viral misinformation: Modeling fake news as complex contagion," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(9), pages 1-21, September.
    2. Low, Nicholas Kah Yean & Melatos, Andrew, 2022. "Discerning media bias within a network of political allies and opponents: The idealized example of a biased coin," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 590(C).
    3. Haibo Hu & Jonathan J. H. Zhu, 2017. "Social networks, mass media and public opinions," Journal of Economic Interaction and Coordination, Springer;Society for Economic Science with Heterogeneous Interacting Agents, vol. 12(2), pages 393-411, July.
    4. José M. Oller & Albert Satorra & Adolf Tobeña, 2019. "Unveiling pathways for the fissure among secessionists and unionists in Catalonia: identities, family language, and media influence," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 5(1), pages 1-13, December.

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