A Dynamic Method to Analyze the Structural Changes of Interpersonal Trust Network in SNS

摘要

This study proposes a dynamic analysis method that would support the establishment of strategies for evolution into desirable trust network structures as well as monitor the change of trust level over time among members for an online community. In order to check the usefulness of theproposed method, we applied it to Advogato, an actual SNS. The results of the analysis demonstrate that Advogato has been changing from a collective trust network structure to an open trust network structure over time. This study brakes away from the existing notion that increases in the densityof trust links is desirable and emphasizes the fact that evolution into desirable trust structures is important.