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The Growth of Follower Networks on Social Media Platforms for Humanitarian Operations

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  • Eunae Yoo
  • Elliot Rabinovich
  • Bin Gu

Abstract

Information is a perishable resource that is costly to produce and distribute to stakeholders. To ensure the rapid and broad diffusion of this resource, humanitarian organizations (HOs) have become increasingly intent on building larger follower networks on social media platforms. Our study examines the growth of these networks, particularly in response to the sharing of social media content originally produced by the HOs during periods of normalcy and emergency. To analyze this phenomenon, we formulate a structural model grounded in theoretical work on strategic network formation. Our model evaluates the probability of individual users deciding to follow a HO in response to content sharing as a function of their utility and costs of doing so. We estimate the model using a unique Twitter dataset from a natural experiment involving a major earthquake. We find that content sharing more effectively contributes to the expansion of HOs’ follower networks after the earthquake. Our results also indicate that content sharing stimulates the formation of follower links to HOs from users who are at the highest risk of receiving obsolete information. Moreover, strategically engaging with users to share and diffuse content can yield greater follower link formation activity. Based on these findings, we derive operational implications for HOs that aim to increase the size of their follower networks on social media platforms.

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  • Eunae Yoo & Elliot Rabinovich & Bin Gu, 2020. "The Growth of Follower Networks on Social Media Platforms for Humanitarian Operations," Production and Operations Management, Production and Operations Management Society, vol. 29(12), pages 2696-2715, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:bla:popmgt:v:29:y:2020:i:12:p:2696-2715
    DOI: 10.1111/poms.13245
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    1. Alekh Gour & Shikha Aggarwal & Subodha Kumar, 2022. "Lending ears to unheard voices: An empirical analysis of user‐generated content on social media," Production and Operations Management, Production and Operations Management Society, vol. 31(6), pages 2457-2476, June.
    2. Ashish Kumar Jha & Nishant Kumar Verma, 2023. "Social Media Sustainability Communication: An Analysis of Firm Behaviour and Stakeholder Responses," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 25(2), pages 723-742, April.
    3. Gloria Urrea & Eunae Yoo, 2023. "The role of volunteer experience on performance on online volunteering platforms," Production and Operations Management, Production and Operations Management Society, vol. 32(2), pages 416-433, February.
    4. Changseung Yoo & Eunae Yoo & Lu (Lucy) Yan & Alfonso Pedraza-Martinez, 2024. "Speak with One Voice? Examining Content Coordination and Social Media Engagement During Disasters," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 35(2), pages 551-569, June.

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