Homophily evolution in online networks: Who is a good friend and when?

Sofia Dokuka, Diliara Valeeva, Maria Yudkevich

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

Abstract

Homophily is considered by network scientists as one of the major mechanisms of social network formation. However, the role of dynamic homophily in the network growth process has not been investigated in detail yet. In this paper, we estimate the role of homophily by various attributes at different stages of online network formation process. We consider the process of online friendship formation in the Vkontakte social networking site among first-year students at a Russian university. We reveal that at the beginning of the network formation a similarity in gender and score in entrance exams plays the key role, while by the end of network establishment period the role of the same group affiliation becomes more important. We explain the results with the tendency of students to follow different strategies to control the information flow in their social environment.

Original languageAmerican English
Title of host publicationAnalysis of Images, Social Networks and Texts - 5th International Conference, AIST 2016, Revised Selected Papers
EditorsNatalia Loukachevitch, Alexander Panchenko, Konstantin Vorontsov, Valeri G. Labunets, Andrey V. Savchenko, Dmitry I. Ignatov, Sergey I. Nikolenko, Mikhail Yu. Khachay
PublisherSpringer Verlag
Pages91-99
Number of pages9
ISBN (Print)9783319529196
DOIs
StatePublished - 2017
Externally publishedYes
Event5th International Conference on Analysis of Images, Social Networks and Texts, AIST 2016 - Yekaterinburg, Russian Federation
Duration: 7 Apr 20169 Apr 2016

Publication series

NameCommunications in Computer and Information Science
Volume661

Conference

Conference5th International Conference on Analysis of Images, Social Networks and Texts, AIST 2016
Country/TerritoryRussian Federation
CityYekaterinburg
Period7/04/169/04/16

Keywords

  • Homophily
  • Network evolution
  • Network growth
  • Online networks
  • Student networks

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General Computer Science
  • General Mathematics

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