Date of This Version
5-2014
Abstract
We investigate the role of manipulation in a model of opinion formation. Agents repeatedly communicate with their neighbors in the social network, can exert effort to manipulate the trust of others, and update their opinions about some common issue by taking weighted averages of neighbors' opinions. The incentives to manipulate are given by the agents' preferences. We show that manipulation can modify the trust structure and lead to a connected society. Manipulation fosters opinion leadership, but the manipulated agent may even gain influence on the long-run opinions. Finally, we investigate the tension between information aggregation and spread of misinformation
Recommended Citation
Förster, Manuel; Mauleon, Ana; and Vannetelbosch, Vincent J., "Trust and Manipulation in Social Networks" (May 01, 2014). Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei Working Papers. Paper 913.
https://services.bepress.com/feem/paper913