The Structure Entropy of Social Networks

Micro triadic structure is an important motif and serves the building block of complex networks. In this paper, the authors define structure entropy for a social network and explain this concept by using the coded triads proposed by Davis and Leinhardt in 1972. The proposed structure entropy serves as a new macro-evolution index to measure the network’s stability at a given timestamp. Empirical analysis of real-world network structure entropy discloses rich information on the mechanism that yields given triadic motifs frequency distribution. This paper illustrates the intrinsic link between the micro dyadic/triadic motifs and network structure entropy. Importantly, the authors find that the high proportion of reciprocity and transitivity results in the emergence of hierarchy, order, and cooperation of online social networks.