Do Online Social Networks Increase Welfare?
36 Pages Posted: 7 Dec 2015
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Do Online Social Networks Increase Welfare?
Date Written: November 2, 2014
Abstract
We consider a strategic online social network that controls information flows between agents in a social learning setting. Agents on the network select among products of competing firms of unknown quality. The network sells advertising to firms. We consider display advertising, which is standard firm-to-consumer advertising, and social advertising, in which agents who purchased that firm's product are highlighted to their friends. We show that in equilibrium, information is unbiased relative to a setting with no advertising. However, the network reduces the information agents see about others' purchases, since this increases advertising revenue. Hence consumer welfare is lower than in the first-best.
Keywords: social networks; advertising; search
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