Modeling Longitudinal Behavior Dynamics Among Extremist Users in Twitter Data

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

We use a dynamical systems perspective to analyze a collection of 2.4 million tweets known to originate from ISIS and ISIS-related users. From those users active over a long period of time (i.e., 2+ years), we derive sequences of behaviors and show that the top users cluster into behavioral classes, which naturally describe roles within the ISIS communication structure. We then correlate these classes to the retweet network of the top users showing the relationship between dynamic behavior and retweet network centrality. We use the underlying model to formulate informed hypotheses about the role each user plays. Finally, we show that this model can be used to detect outliers, i.e. accounts that are thought to be outside the ISIS organization but seem to be playing a key communications role and have dynamic behavior consistent with ISIS members.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationProceedings - 2021 IEEE International Conference on Big Data, Big Data 2021
EditorsYixin Chen, Heiko Ludwig, Yicheng Tu, Usama Fayyad, Xingquan Zhu, Xiaohua Tony Hu, Suren Byna, Xiong Liu, Jianping Zhang, Shirui Pan, Vagelis Papalexakis, Jianwu Wang, Alfredo Cuzzocrea, Carlos Ordonez
PublisherInstitute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
Pages4906-4914
Number of pages9
ISBN (Electronic)9781665439022
DOIs
StatePublished - 2021
Event2021 IEEE International Conference on Big Data, Big Data 2021 - Virtual, Online, United States
Duration: Dec 15 2021Dec 18 2021

Publication series

NameProceedings - 2021 IEEE International Conference on Big Data, Big Data 2021

Conference

Conference2021 IEEE International Conference on Big Data, Big Data 2021
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityVirtual, Online
Period12/15/2112/18/21

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Information Systems and Management
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition
  • Information Systems

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