On using temporal networks to analyze user preferences dynamics

Abstract

User preferences are fairly dynamic, since users tend to exploit a wide range of information and modify their tastes accordingly over time. Existing models and formulations are too constrained to capture the complexity of this underlying phenomenon. In this paper, we investigate the interplay between user preferences and social networks over time. We propose to analyze user preferences dynamics with his/her social network modeled as a temporal network. First, we define a temporal preference model for reasoning with preferences. Then, we use evolving centralities from temporal networks to link with preferences dynamics. Our results indicate that modeling Twitter as a temporal network is more appropriated for analyzing user preferences dynamics than using just snapshots of static network.