Paper Type
Complete
Abstract
Social media plays an important role in influencing social movements. While prior research has investigated the role of social media in social protests within a region, little is known about the spillover effect of social protests across regions enabled by social media. Drawing on Resource Mobilization Theory, this study examines how social protests in socially neighboring regions affect the emergence of social protests in local regions through social networks between these regions and the moderation effects of movement dynamics in local regions. We find that protests in socially neighboring regions positively influence the emergence of protests in local regions, and this can be explained by that information flow through social networks increases moral resources in local regions. Furthermore, this spillover effect is stronger for regions with better social-organizational resources (digital infrastructure) and more grievances. This study enhances the understanding of protest diffusion and provides insights to policymakers and social activists.
Paper Number
1945
Recommended Citation
Zhou, Yingxin and Hou, Jingbo, "Social Tides through Social Connections: Unraveling the Dynamics of Protest Diffusion" (2026). AMCIS 2026 Proceedings. 8.
https://aisel.aisnet.org/amcis2026/sig_si/sig_si/8
Social Tides through Social Connections: Unraveling the Dynamics of Protest Diffusion
Social media plays an important role in influencing social movements. While prior research has investigated the role of social media in social protests within a region, little is known about the spillover effect of social protests across regions enabled by social media. Drawing on Resource Mobilization Theory, this study examines how social protests in socially neighboring regions affect the emergence of social protests in local regions through social networks between these regions and the moderation effects of movement dynamics in local regions. We find that protests in socially neighboring regions positively influence the emergence of protests in local regions, and this can be explained by that information flow through social networks increases moral resources in local regions. Furthermore, this spillover effect is stronger for regions with better social-organizational resources (digital infrastructure) and more grievances. This study enhances the understanding of protest diffusion and provides insights to policymakers and social activists.
When commenting on articles, please be friendly, welcoming, respectful and abide by the AIS eLibrary Discussion Thread Code of Conduct posted here.
Comments
SIG SI