Investigating the Formation Phase of a New Online Social Network

Over the last decade, we have witnessed the emergence of numerous online social media platforms and a growing research interest in understanding their underlying structures and mechanisms. This paper investigates the formation and evolution of the EcoNation social media platform, which is designed to foster collaboration for environmental sustainability. The network structure of EcoNation is introduced and analyzed using a comprehensive dataset covering the platform’s initial years of development. This analysis is conducted using the social network analysis toolbox, which enables the exploration of various aspects of user interactions, connectivity, and engagement patterns. By delving into the data, the aim is to uncover the dynamics that drive the growth and development of EcoNation’s network. The dataset includes information on user registrations, actions performed, validations, and connections formed over time. By examining this data, key trends and behaviors that have shaped the platform’s evolution can be identified. To facilitate further research and enable other scholars to build on this paper’s findings, the exported data was made publicly available.