Paper by Joseph B. Bak-Coleman et al: “Collective behavior provides a framework for understanding how the actions and properties of groups emerge from the way individuals generate and share information. In humans, information flows were initially shaped by natural selection yet are increasingly structured by emerging communication technologies. Our larger, more complex social networks now transfer high-fidelity information over vast distances at low cost. The digital age and the rise of social media have accelerated changes to our social systems, with poorly understood functional consequences. This gap in our knowledge represents a principal challenge to scientific progress, democracy, and actions to address global crises. We argue that the study of collective behavior must rise to a “crisis discipline” just as medicine, conservation, and climate science have, with a focus on providing actionable insight to policymakers and regulators for the stewardship of social systems….(More)”.
How to contribute:
Did you come across – or create – a compelling project/report/book/app at the leading edge of innovation in governance?
Share it with us at info@thelivinglib.org so that we can add it to the Collection!
About the Curator
Get the latest news right in you inbox
Subscribe to curated findings and actionable knowledge from The Living Library, delivered to your inbox every Friday
Related articles
collective intelligence, PEOPLE
Everyone, everywhere, all at once LLMs and the new physics of collective intelligence
Posted in August 30, 2025 by Stefaan Verhulst
PEOPLE
See something, say something? The science of speaking out
Posted in August 26, 2025 by Stefaan Verhulst
citizen engagement, PEOPLE
Leveraging LLMs for Privacy-Aware Predictions in Participatory Budgeting
Posted in August 12, 2025 by Stefaan Verhulst