Speaking of Opinions: Comparing Approaches to Modelling Opinion Manipulation

TL;DR

This paper reviews mathematical and computational models of opinion formation and manipulation, comparing continuous and discrete approaches, and discusses their social implications and interdisciplinary relevance.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive comparison of various modeling techniques for opinion manipulation, highlighting their strengths and limitations.

Findings

Continuous models offer detailed opinion dynamics.

Discrete models are simpler but less nuanced.

Interdisciplinary insights emphasize social impact.

Abstract

This review outlines the major approaches to modelling opinion formation and manipulation in mathematics and computer science. Key tools such as ordinary and partial differential equations, stochastic models, control theory, and interaction protocols are introduced and compared as methods for describing manipulation. The review is separated into those models using a continuous opinion space and those using discrete or binary opinions, with the advantages and disadvantages of each discussed. Finally, the authors provide an interdisciplinary perspective on the field of opinion dynamics and its social significance.