The role of online media in mobilizing large-scale collective action
This study investigates the role of online media in mobilizing large-scale collective action. Adopting the theoretical framework of collective action space, we formulated the organizing process of collective action into a model with two dimensions—hierarchy and closure—and analyzed how they influenc...
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sg-ntu-dr.10356-1538192023-03-05T15:59:11Z The role of online media in mobilizing large-scale collective action Chen, Zhuo Oh, Poong Chen, Anfan Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information Social sciences::Communication Collective Action Space Organizing Process This study investigates the role of online media in mobilizing large-scale collective action. Adopting the theoretical framework of collective action space, we formulated the organizing process of collective action into a model with two dimensions—hierarchy and closure—and analyzed how they influence mobilization. The model was tested against Twitter data collected during the 2020 Hong Kong protest, including a total of 54,365 tweets posted by 14,706 distinct users between 1 May and 31 May 2020. Social networks analysis metrics—k-coreness and brokerage of individual users in their following networks—were employed to quantify the organizing process of the protest and estimate their effects on message virality. The results showed that messages generated by users who occupied peripheral positions (i.e., lower k-coreness) and by those connecting others within closed communities (i.e., lower brokerage) were more likely to diffuse than those generated by central users or those who bridged different communities. That is, online media facilitate mobilization in a decentralized yet fragmented fashion. This article concludes with a discussion of the theoretical implications of the current findings and suggests the directions for future research on collective action on online media. Published version 2021-12-29T08:58:43Z 2021-12-29T08:58:43Z 2021 Journal Article Chen, Z., Oh, P. & Chen, A. (2021). The role of online media in mobilizing large-scale collective action. Social Media and Society, 7(2), 1-13. https://dx.doi.org/10.1177/20563051211033808 2056-3051 https://hdl.handle.net/10356/153819 10.1177/20563051211033808 2-s2.0-85110932653 2 7 1 13 en Social Media and Society © 2021 The Author(s). This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons AttributionNonCommercial 4.0 License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/) which permits non-commercial use, reproduction and distribution of the work without further permission provided the original work is attributed as specified on the SAGE and Open Access pages (https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/open-access-at-sage). application/pdf |
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Social sciences::Communication Collective Action Space Organizing Process Chen, Zhuo Oh, Poong Chen, Anfan The role of online media in mobilizing large-scale collective action |
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This study investigates the role of online media in mobilizing large-scale collective action. Adopting the theoretical framework of collective action space, we formulated the organizing process of collective action into a model with two dimensions—hierarchy and closure—and analyzed how they influence mobilization. The model was tested against Twitter data collected during the 2020 Hong Kong protest, including a total of 54,365 tweets posted by 14,706 distinct users between 1 May and 31 May 2020. Social networks analysis metrics—k-coreness and brokerage of individual users in their following networks—were employed to quantify the organizing process of the protest and estimate their effects on message virality. The results showed that messages generated by users who occupied peripheral positions (i.e., lower k-coreness) and by those connecting others within closed communities (i.e., lower brokerage) were more likely to diffuse than those generated by central users or those who bridged different communities. That is, online media facilitate mobilization in a decentralized yet fragmented fashion. This article concludes with a discussion of the theoretical implications of the current findings and suggests the directions for future research on collective action on online media. |
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Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information |
author_facet |
Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information Chen, Zhuo Oh, Poong Chen, Anfan |
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Article |
author |
Chen, Zhuo Oh, Poong Chen, Anfan |
author_sort |
Chen, Zhuo |
title |
The role of online media in mobilizing large-scale collective action |
title_short |
The role of online media in mobilizing large-scale collective action |
title_full |
The role of online media in mobilizing large-scale collective action |
title_fullStr |
The role of online media in mobilizing large-scale collective action |
title_full_unstemmed |
The role of online media in mobilizing large-scale collective action |
title_sort |
role of online media in mobilizing large-scale collective action |
publishDate |
2021 |
url |
https://hdl.handle.net/10356/153819 |
_version_ |
1759858068638662656 |