Small But Slow World: How Network Topology and Burstiness Slow Down Spreading

TL;DR

This paper investigates why information spreads slowly in small-world communication networks, revealing that weight-topology correlations and bursty activity patterns are key factors impeding rapid dissemination.

Contribution

The study introduces null models to distinguish effects and identifies specific network features that significantly slow down spreading dynamics.

Findings

Weight-topology correlations hinder spreading speed

Burstiness of individual activity patterns causes delays

Null models help isolate factors affecting propagation

Abstract

Communication networks show the small-world property of short paths, but the spreading dynamics in them turns out slow. We follow the time evolution of information propagation through communication networks by using the SI model with empirical data on contact sequences. We introduce null models where the sequences are randomly shuffled in different ways, enabling us to distinguish between the contributions of different impeding effects. The slowing down of spreading is found to be caused mostly by weight-topology correlations and the bursty activity patterns of individuals.