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Modelling how social network algorithms can influence opinion polarization

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Author(s):
de Arruda, Henrique F. R. ; Cardoso, Felipe M. ; de Arruda, Guilherme F. ; Hernandez, Alexis R. ; Costa, Luciano da F. ; Moreno, Yamir
Total Authors: 6
Document type: Journal article
Source: INFORMATION SCIENCES; v. 588, p. 14-pg., 2022-04-01.
Abstract

The study of the dynamics of opinion formation and transmission in social networks has attracted lots of attention. Here, we propose a model that simulates communication in an online social network, in which randomly created posts represent external information. We consider users and friendship relations to be encoded as nodes and edges of a network. The dynamic of information diffusion is divided into two processes, referred to as post transmission and post distribution, representing the users' behavior and the social network algorithm, respectively. Individuals also interact with the post content by slightly adjusting their own opinion and sometimes redefining friendships. Our results show that the dynamic converge to various scenarios, which go from consensus formation to polariza-tion. Importantly, friendship rewiring helps promote echo chamber formation, which can also arise for particular networks with well-defined community structures. Altogether, our results indicate that the social network algorithm is crucial to mitigate or promote polarization. (c) 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. (AU)

FAPESP's process: 13/07375-0 - CeMEAI - Center for Mathematical Sciences Applied to Industry
Grantee:Francisco Louzada Neto
Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Research, Innovation and Dissemination Centers - RIDC
FAPESP's process: 15/22308-2 - Intermediate representations in Computational Science for knowledge discovery
Grantee:Roberto Marcondes Cesar Junior
Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
FAPESP's process: 18/10489-0 - Transformations of complex networks and their implication in topology and dynamics of complex systems
Grantee:Henrique Ferraz de Arruda
Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
FAPESP's process: 19/16223-5 - Analysis of Opinion Dynamics in Terms of Structure and Dynamics of Complex Networks
Grantee:Henrique Ferraz de Arruda
Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Post-doctor