Comparing Twitter and You Tube networks in information diffusion: The case of the "Occupy Wall Street" movement

Abstract

Grounded by the micro approach to network theory, information diffusion theory, and the web ecology model, this study comparatively explores the network structure, interaction pattern, and geographic distribution of users involved in communication networks of the Occupy Wall Street movement on Twitter and YouTube. The results show that Twitter users generated a loosely connected hub-and-spoke network, suggesting that information was likely to be organized by several central users in the network and that these users bridged small communities. On YouTube, homogeneously themed videos formed a dense mesh network, reinforcing shared ideas and meanings. According to the geographic distribution, both Twitter and YouTube networks were actively organized by U.S. users, but the YouTube network was activated mainly by anonymous users. These results highlight differing roles of social media in political information diffusion in which the Twitter network not only organizes and coordinates information but also facilitate the exchange of ideas between different groups. YouTube is suitable for disseminating ideas and reinforcing solidarity among members. The results demonstrate useful analytical techniques for data mining and analyzing Twitter and YouTube networks and have important implications for distinct roles of social media platforms in organizing collective action. (C) 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.