On the mobilizing role of social media in revolutions: a game-theoretic approach

Arbeitspapier

A distinctive feature of recent revolutions was the key role of social media (e.g. Facebook, Twitter and YouTube). We study the role of social media in mobilization. In a simple model we assume that while social media allow to observe all previous decisions, mass media only give aggregate information about the state of a revolt. We show that when individuals' willingness to revolt is publicly known, then both sorts of media foster a successful revolution. However, when willingness to revolt is private information, only social media ensure that a revolt succeeds, with mass media multiple outcomes are possible. This suggests that social media enhance the likelihood that a revolution triumphs more than traditional mass media.

Object Details

• ISBN: 978-615-5447-04-4
• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Series: IEHAS Discussion Papers ; No. MT-DP - 2013/43

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Wirtschaft ; Noncooperative Games ; Institutions: Design, Formation, Operations, and Impact ; Conflict; Conflict Resolution; Alliances; Revolutions
• Subject: social media ; mass media ; revolution ; coordination game ; sequential games

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): Kiss, Hubert János ; Rosa-García, Alfonso
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (who): Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Institute of Economics, Centre for Economic and Regional Studies
• (where): Budapest
• (when): 2013

Further information

• Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/108326
• Last update: 10.03.2025, 11:45 AM CET