Seminar "Universal Dynamics of Word Frequency Through the Analysis of a Large Social Media Database" by Prof. Kenta Yamada

Speaker: Prof. Kenta Yamada

Title: Universal Dynamics of Word Frequency Through the Analysis of a Large Social Media Database

Affiliation: Faculty of Global and Regional Studies, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa, Japan

Hosted by Dieckmann Unit

Venue: B250, Center Building

*Zoom is available:  https://oist.zoom.us/j/95030487687?pwd=MuDPb6VH7ahXEeI94O1doNnAb1yEPe.1

Abstract:

This presentation explores the dynamics of word frequency in social media, focusing on patterns revealed through the analysis of a large blog and Twitter database. Four universal behaviors are identified: steady usage for ordinary words, exponential growth for trending words, sudden spikes followed by gradual declines for news-related words, and growth with relaxation around specific events for event-related words. A minimal agent-based model successfully reproduces these patterns, shedding light on human interactions in the digital space. Examples include the rise and decline of the trending term "KY" (Kuuki Yomenai) and the rapid surge in mentions of "Michael Jackson" following his passing. The study also highlights practical applications of these findings, such as predicting future trends and mitigating misinformation, particularly during crises like the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake. This research integrates large-scale data analysis with socio- and econo-physics, providing valuable insights into social behavior and tools for managing online systems effectively.

Biosketch:

Kenta Yamada is an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Global and Regional Studies at the University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa, Japan. He earned his B.S. in Applied Physics from Hokkaido University in 2005 and completed his M.S. and Ph.D. in Intelligent Systems Science at Tokyo Institute of Technology in 2007 and 2009, respectively. He has held academic positions at Waseda University and the University of Tokyo, in addition to serving as a PRESTO researcher for the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST). His research focuses on socio-economic physics and the analysis and modeling of multi-scale big data. Since joining the University of the Ryukyus in 2019, he has made significant contributions to research on socio-economic systems and big-data analysis. His work is widely published in leading academic journals, and he is actively engaged in interdisciplinary collaborations and international conferences.