A simple model of global cascades in signed networks

• Published in: Chaos, solitons and fractals Vol. 186; p. 115286
• Main Authors: Ke, Xingfu, Wen, Youjin, Yu, Hao, Meng, Fanyuan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.09.2024
• Subjects: Information cascade; Negative links; Phase transition; Signed networks; Threshold; Signed networks; Negative links; Information cascade; Threshold; Phase transition
• ISSN: 0960-0779; 1873-2887
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chaos.2024.115286

Negative relationships play a crucial role in the diffusion of information across social networks. To explore this phenomenon, we introduce a threshold model for information cascades in signed networks, which includes a weighted parameter α∈(−∞,1] to represent the impact of negative links, causing decay or negative influence. Using rigorous mean-field analysis, we identify the conditions that enable global cascades. Interestingly, we find that negative α results in the same cascade conditions as α=0. Furthermore, with negative α, the relationship between average degree and cascade size forms a bell-shaped curve, leading to second-order phase transitions at both low and high average degrees. These findings are consistent across random networks with Poisson and scale-free degree distributions. Overall, this research provides a theoretical framework for understanding the effects of negative connections on information diffusion in social networks, offering important insights into cascade dynamics and practical strategies for managing information dissemination in real-world contexts. •Novel Threshold Model: Captures negative links’ impact on information diffusion.•Analytical Cascade Conditions: Derived using mean-field approximation.•Average degree versus cascade size: a bell-shaped curve under negative α.