Networks and Our Limited Information Horizon

TL;DR

This paper investigates the concept of a limited information horizon in networks, quantifies the information needed to locate nodes, and explores how communication influences network topology and strategic link formation.

Contribution

It introduces a model society where agents communicate to build network perception, revealing how communication levels affect network structure and link distribution.

Findings

Low communication leads to narrow link distribution

High communication results in broad link distribution

Communication influences strategic link formation

Abstract

In this paper we quantify our limited information horizon, by measuring the information necessary to locate specific nodes in a network. To investigate different ways to overcome this horizon, and the interplay between communication and topology in social networks, we let agents communicate in a model society. Thereby they build a perception of the network that they can use to create strategic links to improve their standing in the network. We observe a narrow distribution of links when the communication is low and a network with a broad distribution of links when the communication is high.