CRONA: CRoss Online Social Network Analysis



Overview

OSNs logo

The growing popularity of Online Social Networks (OSNs) has attracted many researchers to characterize various aspects of these networked systems. However, most of the prior studies have focused on aggregate characteristics of a single OSN. In this project, we consider the ecosystem of three major OSNs, namely facebook, Twitter and Google+ and conduct cross OSN analysis. Using separate crawlers for each OSN, we are able to collect representative samples of each network for various analysis. Then, we compare and contrast the key characteristics (such as user behavior, user connectivity) of similar groups of users across different OSNs. In particular, we identify a group of users that have accounts in all three OSNs and consider them in our analysis.

Characterizing Group-Level User Behavior in Major Online Social Networks

We conduct a detailed measurement study to characterize and compare the “group-level" behavior of users in Facebook, Twitter and Google+. We focus on Popular, Cross (with account in three OSNs) and Random group of users in each OSN since they offer complementary views. We capture user behavior with the following metrics: user connectivity, user activity and user reactions. Our group level methodology enables us to capture major trends in the behavior of small but important groups of users, and to conduct inter- and intra-OSN comparison of user behavior. Furthermore, we conduct temporal analysis on different aspects of user behavior for all groups over a two-year period. Our analysis leads to a set of useful insights including: (i) The more likely reaction by Facebook and Google+ users is to express their opinion whereas TW users tend to relay a received post to other users and thus facilitate its propagation. Despite the culture of reshare among Twitter users, a post by a Popular Facebook user receives more Reshares than a post by a Popular Twitter user. (ii) Added features in an OSN can signifficantly boost the rate of action and reaction among its users.

Characterizing Information Propagation in Google+ & Its Comparison with Twitter

This study characterizes the propagation of the information in one of the major OSNs, Google+ (G+). We investigate the answer for two fundamental questions:

First, how the information is propagated in G+ and how such propagation compares with the information dissemination in Twitter? Our results reveal that information is disseminated faster in Twitter, but it has a higher probability of being propagated and travel longer paths in G+. Second, are there influential users that play a key role in the information dissemination in G+ and, if so, who are they? Our results identify two type of influential users in G+ that we refer to as Disseminators and Leaders. The former are relatively popular users that publish a large number of posts that all together reach a large number of users. In addition, they use to publish entertainment content such as funny videos and animations, beautiful pictures and quotes with deep emotional messages. The latter are individual persons that publish few posts that engage a large number of users.

Team Members

  • Angel Cuevas (UC3M)
  • Ruben Cuevas (UC3M)
  • Reza Farahbaksh (Institut Mines-Telecom)
  • Roberto Gonzalez (UC3M)
  • Reza Motamedi (University of Oregon)
  • Reza Rejaie (University of Oregon)

Acknowledgment and Disclaimer

This project is in part funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) grant no. IIS-0917381. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.