Social contagion on higher-order structures

TL;DR

This paper explores how higher-order network structures influence social contagion processes, revealing complex transition behaviors and emphasizing the importance of data for model validation.

Contribution

It introduces a comprehensive framework for modeling social contagion on hypergraphs, highlighting the impact of higher-order interactions on epidemic dynamics.

Findings

Both continuous and discontinuous epidemic transitions observed

Critical mass effects emerge in higher-order contagion models

Theoretical analysis underscores the need for empirical data validation

Abstract

In this Chapter, we discuss the effects of higher-order structures on SIS-like processes of social contagion. After a brief motivational introduction where we illustrate the standard SIS process on networks and the difference between simple and complex contagions, we introduce spreading processes on higher-order structures starting from the most general formulation on hypergraphs and then moving to several mean-field and heterogeneous mean-field approaches. The results highlight the rich phenomenology brought by taking into account higher-order contagion effects: both continuous and discontinuous transitions are observed, and critical mass effects emerge. We conclude with a short discussion on the theoretical results regarding the nature of the epidemic transition and the general need for data to validate these models.