Measuring and Modeling the Topology of Directed Social Networks

 

SEBASTIAN AHNERT

UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE

 

Most social networks studied in the complex networks literature are undirected, as they are based on reciprocal social interactions. There are however a number of directed social networks, in which the direction signifies a transfer of trust or benefits between individuals. In recent work we have shown that a set of clustering coefficients defined for directed networks reveals a distinct signature for these directed social networks, which sets them apart from other types of directed networks. Here we expand upon this work, and develop a theoretical model for the prediction of these topological features. Using this model can give us a deeper insight into the formation and growth of directed social networks.