Rising Tides or Rising Stars?: Dynamics of Shared Attention on Twitter during Media Events

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0094093
• Publication Date: 2014-05-22T20:35:40Z
• Authors: Yu-Ru Lin; Brian Keegan; Drew Margolin; David Lazer
• Keywords: Misinformation

"Media events" generate conditions of shared attention as many users simultaneously tune in with the dual screens broadcast and social media to view participate. We examine how collective patterns user behavior under are distinct from other "bursts" activity like breaking news events. Using 290 million tweets a panel 193,532 politically active Twitter users, we compare features their during eight major events 2012 U.S. presidential election use change these compared "typical" time whether changes attributable shifts population whole or particular segments such elites. Compared baseline periods, our findings reveal that not only large volumes tweets, but they also associated (1) substantial declines interpersonal communication, (2) more highly concentrated by replying retweeting (3) elite predominantly benefiting this attention. These empirically demonstrate bursts on significantly alter underlying processes communication interaction. Because populations within socio-technical systems can so dramatically, suggest need for further research about responses be used support sensemaking, promote informed deliberation, remain resilient face misinformation.