Individual behavior and social influence in online social systems

• DOI: 10.1145/1995966.1995998
• Publication Date: 2011-06-14T14:45:32Z
• Authors: Manos Papagelis; Vanessa Murdock; Roelof van Zwol
• Keywords: Causality; Granularity; Human Behavior; Collective Behavior; Social network (sociolinguistics); Social heuristics; Social system; Social computing

The capacity to collect and analyze the actions of individuals in online social systems at minute-by-minute time granularity offers new perspectives on collective human behavior research. Macroscopic analysis massive datasets raises interesting observations patterns processes. But working a large scale has its own limitations, since it typically doesn't allow for interpretations microscopic level. We examine how different types individual affect decisions friends network. begin with problem detecting influence system. Then we investigate causality between by observing diffusion an innovation among peers. Are more active users influential? credible Bridging this gap finding points where macroscopic worlds converge contributes better mechanisms spreading ideas behaviors networks offer design opportunities systems.