Opinion Dynamics in Social Multiplex Networks with Mono and Bi-directional Interactions in the Presence of Leaders

Abstract

We delve into the dynamics of opinions within a multiplex network using coordination games, where agents communicate either in a one-way or two-way interactions, and where a designated leader may be present. By employing graph theory and Markov chains, we illustrate that despite non-positive diagonal elements in transition probability matrices or decomposable layers, opinions generally converge under specific conditions, leading to a consensus. We further scrutinize the convergence rates of opinion dynamics in networks with one-way versus two-way interactions. We find that in networks with a designated leader, opinions converge towards the initial opinion of the leader, whereas in networks without a designated leader, opinions converge to a convex combination of the opinions of agents. Moreover, we emphasize the crucial role of designated leaders in steering opinion convergence within the network. Our experimental findings corroborate that the presence of leaders expedites convergence, with mono-directional interactions exhibiting notably faster convergence rates compared to bidirectional interactions.