Social networks can influence people through contagion.What does that mean?
A) Connections that lead to disease or infection are called contagion according to sociologists.
B) Social networks are contagious given that they tend to mimic each other over the long run.
C) This borrows from a biological model, in that people who are weak are likely to "catch" the influence of their social network.
D) People who are connected to social networks are more likely to be affected by them.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

"Contagion" in this context refers to the idea that people are affected by the behavior, attitudes, and emotions of those in their social network. Therefore, people who are connected to social networks are more likely to be influenced by them, making option D the best choice. Option A is incorrect because it refers to contagion in a medical sense rather than a sociological sense. Option B is incorrect as it over-generalizes the idea of social influence. Option C is partially correct, but it oversimplifies the concept by suggesting that only weaker individuals are susceptible to contagion.

Social Networks Can Influence People Through Contagion