Analysis of Online Social Networks Based on Complex Network Theory

This survey summarizes the advances made in the research of online social networks based on complex network theory in recent years,with emphasis on the empirical studies on online friendship networks,online communities and online social media. The topological properties of online social networks,especially the degree assortativity coefficient,are different from those of real social networks. This survey explains the emergence of degree disassortativity in online social networks,and points out that there exist different underlying mechanisms for the formation of online and real social networks. Finally this survey summarizes the research significance,theoretical significance,potential application and future research directions on the online social networks.