Cited by 79Complex Network Analysis TechniquesOpinion Dynamics and Social InfluenceComplex Systems and Time Series Analysis

The role of hidden influentials in the diffusion of online information cascades

Open access
Baños, Raquel A, Borge-Holthoefer, Javier, Moreno, Yamir·2013·EPJ Data Science

Abstract

In a diversified context with multiple social networking sites, heterogeneous activity patterns and different user-user relations, the concept of ‘information cascade’ is all but univocal. Despite the fact that such information cascades can be defined in different ways, it is important to check whether some of the observed patterns are common to diverse contagion processes that take place on modern social media. Here, we explore one type of information cascades, namely, those that are time-constrained, related to two kinds of socially-rooted topics on Twitter. Specifically, we show that in both cases cascades sizes distribute following a fat-tailed distribution and that whether or not a cascade reaches system-wide proportions is mainly given by the presence of so-called hidden influentials. These latter nodes are not the hubs, which on the contrary, often act as firewalls for information spreading. Our results contribute to a better understanding of the dynamics of complex contagion and, from a practical side, for the identification of efficient spreaders in viral phenomena.

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  • Hidden influentials are mostly humans, but augmented humans also fall in this category (e.g. User01).

    “Hidden influentials, known to be efficient spreaders in viral phenomena [44], are mostly humans but augmented humans also falls in this category (e.g. User01).”

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Authors
Baños, R. A., Borge-Holthoefer, J., & Moreno, Y.
Affiliations
Universidad de Zaragoza (ES)
Corresponding author
Moreno, Yamir
Venue
EPJ Data Science
Published
2013-07-26
Volume
2
Issue
1
ISSN
2193-1127 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2142125782
Cited by
79
References
52
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 10 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 9 · 2015: 9 · 2014: 10 · 2013: 5
FWCI
7.83
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
cc-by
Locations
EPJ Data Science (publishedVersion, cc-by)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Statistical and Nonlinear Physics › Complex Network Analysis Techniques
  • Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Statistical and Nonlinear Physics › Opinion Dynamics and Social Influence
  • Social Sciences › Economics, Econometrics and Finance › Economics and Econometrics › Complex Systems and Time Series Analysis
Keywords
information cascades, complex contagion, Twitter, social media, heavy-tailed distributions, network hubs, firewall, viral spread, social networks

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