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Characterizing engagement dynamics across topics on Facebook

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Listed:
  • Gabriele Etta
  • Emanuele Sangiorgio
  • Niccolò Di Marco
  • Michele Avalle
  • Antonio Scala
  • Matteo Cinelli
  • Walter Quattrociocchi

Abstract

Social media platforms heavily changed how users consume and digest information and, thus, how the popularity of topics evolves. In this paper, we explore the interplay between the virality of controversial topics and how they may trigger heated discussions and eventually increase users’ polarization. We perform a quantitative analysis on Facebook by collecting ∼57M posts from ∼2M pages and groups between 2018 and 2022, focusing on engaging topics involving scandals, tragedies, and social and political issues. Using logistic functions, we quantitatively assess the evolution of these topics finding similar patterns in their engagement dynamics. Finally, we show that initial burstiness may predict the rise of users’ future adverse reactions regardless of the discussed topic.

Suggested Citation

  • Gabriele Etta & Emanuele Sangiorgio & Niccolò Di Marco & Michele Avalle & Antonio Scala & Matteo Cinelli & Walter Quattrociocchi, 2023. "Characterizing engagement dynamics across topics on Facebook," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 18(6), pages 1-12, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0286150
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0286150
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Daniele Notarmuzi & Claudio Castellano & Alessandro Flammini & Dario Mazzilli & Filippo Radicchi, 2022. "Universality, criticality and complexity of information propagation in social media," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-8, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. Giulio Pecile & Niccolò Di Marco & Matteo Cinelli & Walter Quattrociocchi, 2025. "Mapping the global election landscape on social media in 2024," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 20(2), pages 1-16, February.

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