Comparing coverage of disruptive change in social and traditional media - Evidence from the sharing economy

Journal article, 2018

How is social media different to traditional media in coverage of disruptive technological change? We explore how two entrants transforming the personal transportation and accommodation sectors are covered in social and traditional media. Using content analysis, we conclude that these two forms of media differ substantially. Traditional media is focused on how the two entrants affect society and their respective sectors at large while social media instead functions as an accelerator for the entrants as they receive predominantly positive coverage. Our findings therefore suggest that the rise of social media may accelerate the growth of disruptive innovations, which can in turn reduce the window incumbents have to respond.