This study identifies the characteristics of communication in cyberspace, in particular, how an issue is formed, diffused and amplified to the extent that it arouses collective action in the off-line world. The degree of influence was tested by six me...
This study identifies the characteristics of communication in cyberspace, in particular, how an issue is formed, diffused and amplified to the extent that it arouses collective action in the off-line world. The degree of influence was tested by six media types and by three issue stages (n=298). Qualifications of how an issue shifted from a cyber issue to off-line action was suggested and tested. A Three-Stage Cyber-Issue Diffusion (CID) Model was proposed that identifies an issue cycle in cyberspace as a forming stage, a diffusion stage and an action stage.