Project description
Understanding the impact of link recommendations on social dynamics
Understanding the influence of algorithms on human behaviour in online social media is vital. Link-recommendation algorithms, which suggest new connections to users, are pervasive and fundamentally shape how new connections are forged and the information users encounter. Effectively governing online social networks necessitates a deep understanding of these algorithms’ effects and adapting them for long-term advantages. In this context, the ERC-funded RE-LINK project aims to develop novel computational models to grasp the impact of link recommendations on social dynamics. The project will devise a new link-recommender paradigm aimed at fostering positive social behaviours while balancing short-term performance with long-term societal benefits. Evaluation of the algorithms will be conducted through large-scale multi-agent simulations, online experiments and real-world data analysis.
Objective
This proposal aims to develop, for the first time, new computational models to systematically evaluate 1) the long-term societal impacts of link-recommendation algorithms in online social networks and 2) design a new paradigm of link-recommenders that incentivize cooperation, collective action, and misinformation control.
It is urgent to understand how algorithms used in online social media impact human behavioural dynamics given the widespread use of social media platforms and the evidence that they contribute to exacerbate radicalization, misinformation, and incite hate. This is a challenging endeavour. Online platforms are nowadays complex ecosystems where millions of humans influence each other while co-existing with AI algorithms. In this context, link-recommendation algorithms, used to recommend new connections to users, are ubiquitous. Such algorithms fundamentally affect how new connections are formed and the information users are exposed to. Governing online social networks requires understanding the impact of link-recommenders and how to adapt them to ensure long-term benefits.
With RE-LINK, I aim to develop a new class of models to understand the impact of link-recommendations on social dynamics and, in turn, design a new paradigm of algorithms that balance short-term performance and long-term societal benefits. This will be achieved by developing agent-based models where the evolution of behaviours occurs over adaptive networks whose growth, in turn, follows the heuristics used by link-recommenders. I will resort to evolutionary game theory and stochastic population dynamics to formally study the stability of behaviours in this setting. I will use the modelling results to design new link-recommenders that contribute to stabilize positive social behaviours such as cooperation, collective action, and misinformation debunking. The developed algorithms will be evaluated with large-scale multi-agent simulations, online experiments, and real-world data.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
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Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC Grants
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Call for proposal
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Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2023-STG
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
1012WX Amsterdam
Netherlands
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