Opinion Dynamics in Multiagent Systems with Optimal Choice of Opinion Verification Moments

A model of opinion dynamics in a social network that is a multiagent system with a finite number of agents is considered. There is a center influencing the agents ' opinions by applying control, which is an influence level at every time. The center ' s costs are represented by a linear-quadratic function of a state variable (agents ' opinions) and its controls. The center of influence aims to choose a finite number of opinion verification moments to compare the agents ' opinions with the target one. A solution method for this dynamic problem on a finite time interval is proposed and implemented. In numerical simulation, we show how to find optimal opinion verification moments and the corresponding optimal state trajectories and controls.