Social Networks: Weak Ties and Triadic Closure

This lecture delves into the concepts of strong links and weak links in social networks, emphasizing the importance of weak ties in job finding and information diffusion. It explores the Strength of Weak Ties theory by Mark S. Granovetter, discussing how individuals with diverse social connections have better access to new opportunities. The lecture also covers the Triadic Closure principle, which states that mutual friends in a network are likely to become friends themselves. Additionally, it explains the clustering coefficient, bridges, and local bridges in social networks, highlighting their impact on network connectivity. The discussion concludes with a study on tie strength on Facebook and the paradox of weak ties in job finding across different countries.