In this talk I will discuss two questions related to our understanding of social networks. First, I will look at some of the principles related to the formation of new edges in social networks. Using data from a number of sources, we can quantify the effects of various factors on whether or not a new edge will form. Second, I will look at the growth of explicitly declared communities in networks. I will discuss how the evolution of these communities relates to the properties of the underlying social network. I will wrap up my talk by discussing some of the thorny privacy issues surrounding the study of these networks.
Refreshments will be provided at 10:45