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Identity and search in social networks
Duncan J Watts1, Peter Sheridan Dodds, M E J Newman
1Department of Sociology, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA. djw24@columbia.edu
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|May 23, 2002
Summary
Social networks are surprisingly searchable, allowing messages to reach distant individuals efficiently. This study models searchability using personal identities and social dimensions, applicable to various network search challenges.
Area of Science:
- Social network analysis
- Information science
- Computer science
Background:
- Social networks exhibit an emergent property of 'searchability'.
- Individuals can route messages to distant targets through acquaintance networks in few steps.
- Existing models do not fully explain this searchability phenomenon.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a model explaining social network searchability.
- To define searchable networks and a search method.
- To explore applications beyond social networks.
Main Methods:
- Developed a model based on recognizable personal identities.
- Defined personal identities as sets of characteristics across social dimensions.
- Proposed a method for searching within defined searchable networks.
Main Results:
- Identified 'recognizable personal identities' as key to network searchability.
- Defined a class of networks amenable to this search method.
- Demonstrated the model's potential applicability to diverse network search problems.
Conclusions:
- Social network searchability can be explained by identity-based routing.
- The proposed model offers a framework for understanding and performing network searches.
- The principles may extend to locating data in peer-to-peer networks, the World Wide Web, and distributed databases.
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