This research reveals how influence campaigns can be optimized when audiences only accept viewpoints within a limited range of their current beliefs.

Key Findings:

• Effective influence requires strategic nudging rather than pushing extreme viewpoints
• The research demonstrates mathematical optimization approaches for influence campaign design
• Models account for the bounded confidence phenomenon where people reject ideas too far from their current beliefs
• Applications span from marketing to security concerns around political influence operations

From a security perspective, this work provides critical insights into how influence campaigns are designed and optimized, helping organizations identify and counter manipulation in online spaces.

Optimizing Influence Campaigns: Nudging under Bounded Confidence