Network Science and Social Communication

Abstract

The rise of digital platforms has reshaped social communication, introducing new complexities that require novel analytical approaches. Despite the increased attention to the study of online communication, researchers have yet to adopt a unified methodology for studying this phenomenon. This chapter examines the state of the art of network-based approaches to study communication from a computational perspective. In particular, it presents a flexible framework for studying social (online) communication within the context in which it occurs and for addressing the challenges posed by its multifaceted nature. In this work we: (i) identify the five ingredients for modeling communication with networks (actors, content, links, time, and context); (ii) review network-based methods and models, and provide metrics to measure conversational aspects of communication; (iii) categorize current research objectives and applications. Our goal is to provide a structured overview of the field, encouraging further exploration of how network science can enhance the study of communication in an increasingly complex and dynamic environment.