Ordering dynamics in the voter model with aging

The voter model with memory-dependent dynamics is theoretically and numerically studied at the mean-field level. The `internal age', or time an individual spends holding the same state, is added to the set of binary states of the population, such that the probability of changing state (or activation probability $p_i$) depends on this age. A closed set of integro-differential equations describing the time evolution of the fraction of individuals with a given state and age is derived, and from it analytical results are obtained characterizing the behavior of the system close to the absorbing states. In general, different age-dependent activation probabilities have different effects on the dynamics. When the activation probability $p_i$ is an increasing function of the age $i$, the system reaches a steady state with coexistence of opinions. In the case of aging, with $p_i$ being a decreasing function, either the system reaches consensus or it gets trapped in a frozen state, depending on the value of $p_\infty$ (zero or not) and the velocity of $p_i$ approaching $p_\infty$. Moreover, when the system reaches consensus, the time ordering of the system can be exponential ($p_\infty>0$) or power-law like ($p_\infty=0$). Exact conditions for having one or another behavior, together with the equations and explicit expressions for the exponents, are provided

Opinion formation on social networks with algorithmic bias: Dynamics and bias imbalance

We investigate opinion dynamics and information spreading on networks under the influence of content filtering technologies. The filtering mechanism, present in many online social platforms, reduces individuals' exposure to disagreeing opinions, producing algorithmic bias. We derive evolution equations for global opinion variables in the presence of algorithmic bias, network community structure, noise (independent behavior of individuals), and pairwise or group interactions. We consider the case where the social platform shows a predilection for one opinion over its opposite, unbalancing the dynamics in favor of that opinion. We show that if the imbalance is strong enough, it may determine the final global opinion and the dynamical behavior of the population. We find a complex phase diagram including phases of coexistence, consensus, and polarization of opinions as possible final states of the model, with phase transitions of different order between them. The fixed point structure of the equations determines the dynamics to a large extent. We focus on the time needed for convergence and conclude that this quantity varies within a wide range, showing occasionally signatures of critical slowing down and meta-stability

Opinion dynamics in social networks: From models to data

Opinions are an integral part of how we perceive the world and each other. They shape collective action, playing a role in democratic processes, the evolution of norms, and cultural change. For decades, researchers in the social and natural sciences have tried to describe how shifting individual perspectives and social exchange lead to archetypal states of public opinion like consensus and polarization. Here we review some of the many contributions to the field, focusing both on idealized models of opinion dynamics, and attempts at validating them with observational data and controlled sociological experiments. By further closing the gap between models and data, these efforts may help us understand how to face current challenges that require the agreement of large groups of people in complex scenarios, such as economic inequality, climate change, and the ongoing fracture of the sociopolitical landscape.Comment: 22 pages, 3 figure

Determinants in Jordan matrix algebras

We introduce a natural notion of determinant in matrix JB$^*$-algebras, i.e., for hermitian matrices of biquaternions and for hermitian $3\times 3$ matrices of complex octonions. We establish several properties of these determinants which are useful to understand the structure of the Cartan factor of type $6$. As a tool we provide an explicit description of minimal projections in the Cartan factor of type $6$ and a variety of its automorphisms.Comment: 38 pages; we added one reference and one remar

Multidimensional political polarization in online social networks

Political polarization in online social platforms is a rapidly growing phenomenon worldwide. Despite their relevance to modern-day politics, the structure and dynamics of polarized states in digital spaces are still poorly understood. We analyze the community structure of a two-layer, interconnected network of French Twitter users, where one layer contains members of Parliament and the other one regular users. We obtain an optimal representation of the network in a four-dimensional political opinion space by combining network embedding methods and political survey data. We find structurally cohesive groups sharing common political attitudes and relate them to the political party landscape in France. The distribution of opinions of professional politicians is narrower than that of regular users, indicating the presence of more extreme attitudes in the general population. We find that politically extreme communities interact less with other groups as compared to more centrist groups. We apply an empirically tested social influence model to the two-layer network to pinpoint interaction mechanisms that can describe the political polarization seen in data, particularly for centrist groups. Our results shed light on the social behaviors that drive digital platforms towards polarization, and uncover an informative multidimensional space to assess political attitudes online

Analytical and numerical treatment of continuous ageing in the voter model

The conventional voter model is modified so that an agent's switching rate depends on the `age' of the agent, that is, the time since the agent last switched opinion. In contrast to previous work, age is continuous in the present model. We show how the resulting individual-based system with non-Markovian dynamics and concentration-dependent rates can be handled both computationally and analytically. Lewis' thinning algorithm can be modified in order to provide an efficient simulation method. Analytically, we demonstrate how the asymptotic approach to an absorbing state (consensus) can be deduced. We discuss three special cases of the age dependent switching rate: one in which the concentration of voters can be approximated by a fractional differential equation, another for which the approach to consensus is exponential in time, and a third case in which the system reaches a frozen state instead of consensus. Finally, we include the effects of spontaneous change of opinion, i.e., we study a noisy voter model with continuous ageing. We demonstrate that this can give rise to a continuous transition between coexistence and consensus phases. We also show how the stationary probability distribution can be approximated, despite the fact that the system cannot be described by a conventional master equation

On optimality of constants in the Little Grothendieck Theorem

A. M. Peralta was partially supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities (MICINN) and European Regional Development Fund project no. PGC2018-093332-B-I00, the IMAG -Maria de Maeztu grant CEX2020-001105-M/AEI/10.13039/501100011033, and by Junta de Andalucia grants FQM375 and A-FQM-242-UGR18.We explore the optimality of the constants making valid the recently established little Grothendieck inequality for JB*-triples and JB*-algebras. In our main result we prove that for each bounded linear operator T from a JB*-algebra B into a complex Hilbert space H and epsilon > 0, there is a norm-one functional phi is an element of B* such that parallel to Tx parallel to <= (root 2 + epsilon)parallel to T parallel to parallel to x parallel to(phi) for x is an element of B. The constant appearing in this theorem improves the best value known up to date (even for C*-algebras). We also present an easy example witnessing that the constant cannot be strictly smaller than root 2, hence our main theorem is 'asymptotically optimal'. For type I JBW*-algebras we establish a canonical decomposition of normal functionals which may be used to prove the main result in this special case and also seems to be of an independent interest. As a tool we prove a measurable version of the Schmidt representation of compact operators on a Hilbert space.Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities (MICINN)European Commission PGC2018-093332-B-I00IMAG -Maria de Maeztu grant CEX2020-001105-M/AEI/10.13039/501100011033Junta de Andalucia FQM375 A-FQM-242-UGR1