The Power of Social Networks: Information Elites and the Spread of Politically Sensitive Information under Media Censorship

Abstract

This paper empirically examines how politically sensitive information spreads through social networks under strict media censorship in China. Using a unique dataset from Sina Weibo (China’s version of Twitter), we map large-scale anonymized users’ online social networks and identify key network nodes—referred to as “information elites”—who can circumvent censorship to access uncensored content. We analyze users’ public posts to determine whether they align with the Chinese government’s propaganda on three key issues, which may reflect their sources of information: (1) COVID-19: Omicron remains fatal; (2) the Russia-Ukraine war: Russia is fighting for justice; and (3) Japan’s discharge of nuclear wastewater into the ocean: Japan is extremely selfish and irresponsible. Our findings show that: (i) users connected to information elites are significantly more likely to disagree with government propaganda than those who are not connected; (ii) even users who initially agree with the propaganda are more likely to shift their beliefs over time if connected to information elites. These results suggest that information elites may significantly reshape their friends’ beliefs by sharing updated, uncensored information. Our findings highlight the power of social networks in undermining the effectiveness of media censorship in the information age, with information elites playing a pivotal role in disseminating uncensored content among citizens.