Competition and dual users in complex contagion processes

TL;DR

This paper analyzes how competition between two innovations in complex networks is affected by dual users, revealing phases of coexistence and conditions for the spread or extinction of innovations.

Contribution

It introduces an analytical framework to study dual users in complex contagion, highlighting their impact on spreading transitions and coexistence phases.

Findings

Dual users modify transient dynamics and promote innovation spread.

Competition suppresses but can also enable coexistence of innovations.

Dual users allow the new innovation to spread despite first-mover advantage.

Abstract

We study the competition of two spreading entities, for example innovations, in complex contagion processes in complex networks. We develop an analytical framework and examine the role of dual users, i.e. agents using both technologies. Searching for the spreading transition of the new innovation and the extinction transition of a preexisting one, we identify different phases depending on network mean degree, prevalence of preexisting technology, and thresholds of the contagion process. Competition with the preexisting technology effectively suppresses the spread of the new innovation, but it also allows for phases of coexistence. The existence of dual users largely modifies the transient dynamics creating new phases that promote the spread of a new innovation and extinction of a preexisting one. It enables the global spread of the new innovation even if the old one has the first-mover advantage.