Higher-order network effects on information access equality & efficiency

Event: NetSI Student Research Symposium 2025, Boston, US

Date: 2025/03/17

Abstract

Early access to important information, such as job opportunities, research insights, and emergent threats, can provide substantial advantages. If specific groups are systematically disadvantaged in their ability to access information promptly, existing socioeconomic inequalities can be reinforced. While information spreading on graphs and higher-order structures has been studied extensively, it remains poorly understood how the interplay between homophily and higher-order interactions shapes temporal information access equality (IAE). Here, we study how homophily and asymmetric transmission mechanisms influence IAE. We introduce a maximum entropy model of hypergraphs with fixed degree distribution and edge-size-dependent edge-size-dependent homophily patterns. We use a stochastic, compartmental model with group-specific transmission rates and non-linearity to model the spread of information on synthetic and real-world hypergraphs. To quantify IAE, we introduce a new measure based on optimal transport and supplement our analysis with several existing ones. We then leverage our insights to design intervention strategies that increase fair access to information. We find that the influence of hypergraph homophily and dynamical systems parameters are tightly intertwined. IAE is largest in a high homophily scenario that favors in-group transmission but persists under equal in- and out-group transmission. In both cases, the presence of mixed homophily patterns improves fair information access. We observe similar patterns in real-world hypergraphs. Based on these results, we explore the efficacy of adjusting contagion parameters and restructuring the hypergraph in improving IAE. Our findings highlight the importance of the interplay of higher-order interactions and homophily for quantifying and combating IAE.

For more information see the following paper

@article{laberdiesehlert2025_effectshigherorderinteractions,
  title = {Effects of Higher-Order Interactions and Homophily on Information Access Inequality},
  author = {Laber, Moritz and Dies, Samantha and Ehlert, Joseph and Klein, Brennan and Eliassi-Rad, Tina},
  year = {2025},
  journal = {Communications Physics},
  volume = {9},
  number = {1},
  pages = {13},
  doi = {10.1038/s42005-025-02445-y}
}