Modeling the co-diffusion of competing memes in online social networks
本文提出了一个统一模型，研究在线社交网络中多个竞争模因同时扩散的机制，首次发现了一个普适的竞争阈值，能有效预测模因竞争的胜负结果，对网络动员和打击虚假信息有重要启示。
Online social networks have greatly facilitated the spread of information of all sorts. Meanwhile, the abundance of information in today's world also means different pieces of information will increasingly compete for people's finite attention. When different pieces of information spread together in an online social network, why would some become trendy while others fail to emerge? Existing research either models the diffusion of each piece of information independently, or fails to consider users' inactivity in online social networks. Modeling each piece of information as a meme, this paper addresses this gap by proposing a unified model for the co-diffusion of competing memes simultaneously spreading across an online social network. We are the first to identify a ubiquitous threshold for competing meme. The threshold also functions as an effective predictor that contributes to better performance in determining the outcome of meme competitions. Outcomes from this study have important implications for online campaigns and mobilizations as well as the fight against misinformation. • Unified model for competing memes' spread in online networks. • First to identify a universal meme competition threshold. • Threshold predicts meme competition outcomes effectively.