Evolutionary Game Dynamics of the Competitive Information Propagation on Social Networks

To better control the scope of information propagation and understand its dynamic characteristics, we propose an information propagation model based on evolutionary game theory. The model can simulate an individual’s strategy selection in social networks when facing two pieces of competitive information, whereby “competitive information” is defined as two pieces of information which have the opposite meaning. First, a reasonable payoff function is designed for individuals based on pairwise interaction. Second, each individual selects a friend it trusts. Third, a probability value is used to indicate whether an individual imitates the strategy of the selected friend. In the model, we consider not only the heterogeneous influence of friends’ strategies on individual decision-making in the process of communication but also the attenuation of individuals’ attention to information when information about friends is received repeatedly. The simulation results show that our model can accurately simulate the propagation of two pieces of competitive information. Furthermore, we find that the basic payoff that accrues to individuals as a result of spreading their information and the network topology are two factors that significantly influence the propagation result. The results provide effective insights into how to better control and guide public opinion.