Abstract To reveal the spatial characteristics of information diffusion, this paper studies the microblog information diffusion among China’s prefecture-level cities utilizing Sina microblog data, and studies the factors influencing the intercity information diffusion using gravity model. We find that a few first and second-tier cities show information monopoly and dominate the output and diffusion of microblog content. The analysis on intercity information interaction models shows that the number of users affects the intercity information diffusion to a large extent, the total GDP of cities can also predict intercity information interaction, and space distance no longer plays a part. The information diffusion in microblog breaks the limit of spatial distance. This study reveals the mapping between online social networks and offline physical space, and the intercity diffusion characteristics of information in social media, which can provide reference for spatial location-related information distribution and online public opinion monitoring.
LI Canghai,XU Yitie,LUO Chunhai, et al. Spatial Analysis of Microblog Information Diffusion[J]. Complex Systems and Complexity Science,
2017, 14(3): 75-84.
