Harvey Weinstein and Network Effects
https://www.npr.org/2017/11/04/562137110/why-the-weinstein-effect-seems-like-a-tipping-point
This article talks about the Harvey Weinstein sexual assault case and how it cause many more men to be accused of sexual harassment. Before the Harvey Weinstein allegations were made public, other sexual harassment cases by internationally recognized actresses did not cause such an increase in sexual harassment cases. However after the Weinstein accusations, as more women step forward about sexual harassment other women want to bring sexual harassment into the national spotlight as well.
The Weinstein Effect is the effect where after the Weinstein case came to public, more and more sexual harassment cases have been brought to the public eye. This effect is an example of network effects equilibrium. Prior to this case the number of sexual assault cases was below the tipping point. In other words, the participation rate diminishes to 0 every time a new sexual assault case came up. However, with the Harvey Weinstein case, there were over 50 individuals that accused Weinstein of sexual assault or misconduct. Due to the gravity of this case, it temporarily pushed the participation rate in the number of sexual assault cases past the tipping point. Once the participation rate is past the tipping point (which is also the unstable equilibrium), the participation continues growing until it reaches the stable equilibrium. The Weinstein Effect is simulating the same behavior. After the Weinstein case, more and more females started speaking out against other high profile men. Therefore, the Weinstein Effect can easily be explained through network effects and participation in a network. We will likely see the number of sexual assault cases to continue rising for about two months until finally we reach the stable equilibrium.