Big Data Analytics for Social Networks

The last few years have witnessed a dramatic upswing in the volume, variety, and acquisition rate of data from disparate sources. Among other factors, this “data deluge” has been fueled by the ubiquity of the web, pervasive deployment of low-cost sensors, cheaper storage memory, and growing awareness that data is a key asset from which valuable insights can be unlocked. Social networks lie at the forefront of this revolution, presenting ample opportunities to address several challenges associated with big data. Examples include micro-blogging services (e.g., Twitter), web-based friendship networks (e.g., Facebook), and online product reviews (e.g., Yelp).