On the Value of a Social Network

TL;DR

This paper analyzes the value of social networks by examining their structural probability mechanisms, focusing on small world and scale-free networks, and suggests that Zipf's law models their value effectively.

Contribution

It introduces a method to quantify social network value based on underlying probability mechanisms and demonstrates Zipf's law as a fitting model.

Findings

Value of small world networks aligns with Zipf's law

Scale-free networks also follow Zipf's distribution

Provides a quantitative framework for social network valuation

Abstract

In this paper we investigate the value of a social network with respect to the probability mechanism underlying its structure. Specifically, we compute the value for small world and scale free networks. We provide evidence in support of the value to be given by Zipfs law.