Emergent Influence Networks in Good-Faith Online Discussions
Henry K. Dambanemuya, Daniel Romero, Em\H{o}ke-\'Agnes Horv\'at

TL;DR
This paper explores how a user's position within online discussion networks affects their persuasiveness, revealing that network influence and successful persuasion are mutually reinforcing in digital debates.
Contribution
It introduces a novel framework combining social network analysis and machine learning to measure the impact of network position on persuasiveness in online discussions.
Findings
Network position influences persuasiveness.
Successful persuasion enhances network influence.
Network dynamics are crucial for understanding online discourse.
Abstract
Town hall-type debates are increasingly moving online, irrevocably transforming public discourse. Yet, we know relatively little about crucial social dynamics that determine which arguments are more likely to be successful. This study investigates the impact of one's position in the discussion network created via responses to others' arguments on one's persuasiveness in unfacilitated online debates. We propose a novel framework for measuring the impact of network position on persuasiveness, using a combination of social network analysis and machine learning. Complementing existing studies investigating the effect of linguistic aspects on persuasiveness, we show that the user's position in a discussion network influences their persuasiveness online. Moreover, the recognition of successful persuasion further increases this dominant network position. Our findings offer important insights…
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Taxonomy
TopicsOpinion Dynamics and Social Influence · Social Media and Politics · Misinformation and Its Impacts
