A model of Elite Interactions and Hidden Opinions

This paper shows the  importance of building flexible models of social influence in online  contexts, aimed to better understand the drivers of different opinion patterns such as political consensus or polarization. Mirroring empirical research on users’ behavior and characteristics online, I formalize an opinion formation model separating Elite and Normal users  by network centrality as a measure of influence. Each group has a distinct opinion updating rule, capturing behavioral differences in online interactions among ideologically opposed (aligned) visible Elites  or passive engagement with content by Normal users. I run simulations and investigate the conditions driving different long-run opinion patterns. Findings align with political science literature showing  partisan Elite polarization, rather than mass polarization.