Bounded confidence and Social networks

TL;DR

This paper explores how different social network structures affect opinion dynamics in the bounded confidence model, where agents influence each other only if their opinions are sufficiently similar.

Contribution

It analyzes the impact of various social network topologies on the behavior and outcomes of the bounded confidence opinion model.

Findings

Network topology significantly influences opinion convergence.

Certain structures promote consensus, others lead to fragmentation.

The model's dynamics vary with network connectivity patterns.

Abstract

In the so-called bounded confidence model proposed by Deffuant et al, agents can influence each other's opinion provided that opinions are already sufficiently close enough. We here discuss the influence of possible social networks topologies on the dynamics of this model.