Tolerance-based interaction: a new model targeting opinion formation and diffusion in social networks

One of the main motivations behind social network analysis is the quest for understanding opinion formation and diffusion. Previous models have limitations, as they typically assume opinion interaction mechanisms based on thresholds which are either fixed or evolve according to a random process that is external to the social agent. Indeed, our empirical analysis on large real-world datasets such as Twitter, Meme Tracker, and Yelp, uncovers previously unaccounted for dynamic phenomena at population-level, namely the existence of distinct opinion formation phases and social balancing. We also reveal that a phase transition from an erratic behavior to social balancing can be triggered by network topology and by the ratio of opinion sources. Consequently, in order to build a model that properly accounts for these phenomena, we propose a new (individual-level) opinion interaction model based on tolerance. As opposed to the existing opinion interaction models, the new tolerance model assume...

• Type: Journal
• Year: 2016
• Where: PEERJCS
• Authors: Alexandru Topirceanu, Mihai Udrescu, Mircea Vladutiu, Radu Marculescu
• Keywords: PEERJCS 2016