{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,24]],"date-time":"2026-03-24T18:38:00Z","timestamp":1774377480566,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":45,"publisher":"MIS Quarterly","issue":"4","content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":[],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2023,12,1]]},"abstract":"<jats:p>Social media\u2014and, in particular, social media influencers\u2014are playing an increasingly central role in shaping public opinion on a variety of issues. The political sphere is no exception. In response to the impact that social media influencers have on citizens\u2019 political views and voting behaviors, political parties adapt their messages and policies during election campaigns. Media outlets, too, faced with competition for readership from social media, are adjusting their news coverage. To analyze the nature and extent of the impact of social media on parties\u2019 policies, media outlets\u2019 news reports, and citizens\u2019 opinions, we used a game theoretical model of electoral competition involving four key stakeholders\u2014citizens, political parties, media outlets, and social media influencers. Our results show that with social media, parties\u2019 policy positions become more moderate while media outlets\u2019 editorial positions become more extreme. We also show that citizens\u2019 opinions may become more polarized when the influencers\u2019 true editorial positions are more homogeneous as a result of increased information distortion.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.25300\/misq\/2022\/16422","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2024,1,22]],"date-time":"2024-01-22T15:22:10Z","timestamp":1705936930000},"page":"1647-1662","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":9,"title":["Electoral Competition in the Age of Social Media: The Role of Social Media Influencers"],"prefix":"10.25300","volume":"47","author":[{"given":"Chao","family":"Ding","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Innovation and Information Management, Faculty of Business and Economics, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China"}]},{"given":"Wael","family":"Jabr","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Supply Chain and Information Systems, Smeal College of Business, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, U.S.A."}]},{"given":"Hong","family":"Guo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Information Systems, W. 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