Longitudinal Change of an Online Political Discussion Forum: Antecedents of Discussion Network Size and Evolution

By analyzing 13-month longitudinal digital trace data, we examined why some people have larger discussion networks than others and which communication and relational characteristics contribute to the evolution of discussion network ties. Implementing a network analysis, we found that an online forum’s structural qualities tended to become stable over time. Discussants’ average network size was 4.6, and discussants retained one out of five members after more than one year. Those who had larger networks tended to participate in more conversations rather than staying longer or showing up more frequently. One’s reputation or potential political heterogeneity from the general consensus of the forum did not influence one’s network size. Reciprocity and popularity contributed to the maintenance or creation of discussion ties.