Neutral Theory for competing attention in social networks

TL;DR

This paper applies a neutral ecological model to analyze competition for attention in social networks, revealing insights into meme persistence and coexistence through both approximate and exact finite-size system analysis.

Contribution

It introduces a novel ecological neutral model approach to study attention competition and meme dynamics in social networks, providing both continuum and exact finite system results.

Findings

Identified patterns of meme persistence and coexistence.

Provided exact solutions for finite-size social network models.

Demonstrated ecological patterns in online information dynamics.

Abstract

We used an ecological approach based on a neutral model to study the competition for attention in an online social network. This novel approach allow us to analyze some ecological patterns that has also an insightful meaning in the context of information ecosystem. Specifically, we focus on the study of patterns related with the persistence of a meme within the network and the capacity of the system to sustain coexisting memes. Not only are we able of doing such analysis in an approximated continuum limit, but also we get exact results of the finite-size discrete system.