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Homophily and Insularity Dynamics in an Echo Chambers: Computational Models for the Study of the Conspiracy Subculture in Facebook

Author

Listed:
  • Vanessa Russo

    (University G. D’Annunzio Chieti)

  • Giulia Andrighetto

    (ISTC–CNR
    Institute for Future Studies
    Institute for Analytical Sociology)

  • Mara Maretti

    (University G. D’Annunzio Chieti)

  • Eugenia Polizzi

    (ISTC–CNR)

  • Federico Cecconi

    (ISTC–CNR)

Abstract

The research focuses on developing a computational model (agent-based) to describe and analyse the structure and evolution of a conspiracy bubble within Facebook. The methodological framework relies on a hypothesis, previously validated in other digital contexts, asserting that user groups interested in conspiracy topics form not isolated cliques but rather constitute a subculture characterised by a system of “subjective understanding” (Tucker, W. T. (1965). Max Weber's verstehen. Sociol Q, 6(2), 157–165) and specific interpretative categories (Russo & Cecconi, Russo, V., Cecconi, F. (2023). Collettivi digitali e cultura della disinformazione. Analisi di una bolla cospirazionista durante la pandemia di Covid-19. Sociologia Italiana, (22).; Barkun, Barkun, A culture of conspiracy: Apocalyptic visions in contemporary America, University of California Press, 2013; Grusauskaite et al., Grusauskaite et al., New Media & Society, 2023). In accordance with this hypothesis, the research design incorporates four types of entities: the conspiracy articles generated in the digital space, the websites where they come from, the public pages and groups where they are shared, and the users engaging with this content. The methodological process unfolds in two phases: (1) descriptive, data mining and analysis of the content and structure of a conspiracy bubble, along with the construction of a relational dataset; (2) experimental, development of the agent-based model, creation of scenarios, model validation, simulation, and subsequent data analysis. The research findings reveal a bubble comprising a singular component characterised by hub nodes functioning as cultural catalysts and specific interpretative categories shared among users. Simulation results show that the network fragments in response to changes in two article properties acting as ‘glue’: political orientation and the incitement of fear and hate.

Suggested Citation

  • Vanessa Russo & Giulia Andrighetto & Mara Maretti & Eugenia Polizzi & Federico Cecconi, 2025. "Homophily and Insularity Dynamics in an Echo Chambers: Computational Models for the Study of the Conspiracy Subculture in Facebook," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 178(3), pages 1297-1321, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:soinre:v:178:y:2025:i:3:d:10.1007_s11205-024-03461-1
    DOI: 10.1007/s11205-024-03461-1
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    1. Miller McPherson, 2004. "A Blau space primer: prolegomenon to an ecology of affiliation," Industrial and Corporate Change, Oxford University Press and the Associazione ICC, vol. 13(1), pages 263-280, February.
    2. Alessandro Bessi & Mauro Coletto & George Alexandru Davidescu & Antonio Scala & Guido Caldarelli & Walter Quattrociocchi, 2015. "Science vs Conspiracy: Collective Narratives in the Age of Misinformation," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(2), pages 1-17, February.
    3. Björn Ross & Laura Pilz & Benjamin Cabrera & Florian Brachten & German Neubaum & Stefan Stieglitz, 2019. "Are social bots a real threat? An agent-based model of the spiral of silence to analyse the impact of manipulative actors in social networks," European Journal of Information Systems, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 28(4), pages 394-412, July.
    4. repec:plo:pone00:0087908 is not listed on IDEAS
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