Network localization governs social contagion dynamics with macro-level reinforcement

Fuente: arXiv
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Hauptverfasser: Xue, Leyang, Yang, Kai-Cheng, Cui, Peng-Bi, Di, Zengru
Format: Preprint
Veröffentlicht: 2025
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author Xue, Leyang
Yang, Kai-Cheng
Cui, Peng-Bi
Di, Zengru
author_facet Xue, Leyang
Yang, Kai-Cheng
Cui, Peng-Bi
Di, Zengru
contents The spread of ideas, behaviors, and technologies generally depends on feedback mechanisms operating across multiple scales. Previous studies have extensively examined pairwise transmission and local reinforcement. However, the role of macro-level social influence -- where widespread adoption enhances further adoption -- remains understudied. Here, we focus on a contagion process that incorporates both pairwise interactions and macro-level reinforcement. We show that the contagion undergoes a shift from continuous to mixed-order transition as macro-level influence exceeds a reinforcement threshold. Simulations on various real-world networks indicate that network localization governs the contagion outcomes by determining the critical point and the reinforcement threshold. Building on this insight, we develop a structural metric linking network localization to contagion dynamics, revealing a key trade-off: networks that facilitate weak contagion tend to experience slower diffusion and lower adoption rates, while networks that suppress weak contagions enable faster and more widespread adoption. These findings challenge the conventional belief that stronger local connectivity uniformly promotes contagion.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2512_15371
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Network localization governs social contagion dynamics with macro-level reinforcement
Xue, Leyang
Yang, Kai-Cheng
Cui, Peng-Bi
Di, Zengru
Physics and Society
Applied Physics
The spread of ideas, behaviors, and technologies generally depends on feedback mechanisms operating across multiple scales. Previous studies have extensively examined pairwise transmission and local reinforcement. However, the role of macro-level social influence -- where widespread adoption enhances further adoption -- remains understudied. Here, we focus on a contagion process that incorporates both pairwise interactions and macro-level reinforcement. We show that the contagion undergoes a shift from continuous to mixed-order transition as macro-level influence exceeds a reinforcement threshold. Simulations on various real-world networks indicate that network localization governs the contagion outcomes by determining the critical point and the reinforcement threshold. Building on this insight, we develop a structural metric linking network localization to contagion dynamics, revealing a key trade-off: networks that facilitate weak contagion tend to experience slower diffusion and lower adoption rates, while networks that suppress weak contagions enable faster and more widespread adoption. These findings challenge the conventional belief that stronger local connectivity uniformly promotes contagion.
title Network localization governs social contagion dynamics with macro-level reinforcement
topic Physics and Society
Applied Physics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2512.15371