Identification of Key Nodes in Microblog Networks

A microblog is a service typically offered by online social networks, such as Twitter and Facebook. From the perspective of information dissemination, we define the concept behind a spreading matrix. A new WeiboRank algorithm for identification of key nodes in microblog networks is proposed, taking into account parameters such as a user's direct appeal, a user's influence region, and a user's global influence power. To investigate how measures for ranking influential users in a network correlate, we compare the relative influence ranks of the top 20 microblog users of a university network. The proposed algorithm is compared with other algorithms — PageRank, Betweeness Centrality, Closeness Centrality, Out‐degree — using a new tweets propagation model — the Ignorants‐Spreaders‐Rejecters model. Comparison results show that key nodes obtained from the WeiboRank algorithm have a wider transmission range and better influence.