Wisdom and Polarization
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SeriesResearch Master Defense
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SpeakerSaeed Badri
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LocationOnline
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Date and time
August 31, 2021
11:00 - 12:00
We study the impact of misinformation and polarization on wisdom loss by using the DeGroot model. To do that, we analyze stylized models and numerically solve the wisdom loss for smaller cases and by simulation for the larger and general networks. We find that with even an infinitesimal small fraction of bots, a jump in wisdom loss occurs. This means that as long as there are unsophisticated agents (agents who are linked to bots), we see the wisdom loss even for a low fraction of bots and a large number of sophisticated agents (agents who are not linked to bots). This insight sheds new light on the impact of bots on social network consensus models.