Social Catalysts: Characterizing People Who Spark Conversations Among Others

People assume different and important roles within social networks. Some have received extensive study: that of influencers who are well-connected, brokers bridge unconnected parts the network. However, very little work has explored another potentially role, creating opportunities for people to interact facilitating conversation between them. These individuals bring together act as catalysts. In this paper, we test presence catalysts on online network Facebook. We first identify posts spurred conversations poster's friends summarize characteristics such posts. then aggregate number catalyzed comments at poster level, a measure individual's "catalystness." The top 1% account 31% interactions, although their do not differ markedly from others post frequently similar friends. By collecting survey data, also validate behavioral catalystness: person is more likely be nominated catalyst by if prompt discussions other frequently. measure, along with conversation-related features, one most predictive being catalyst. Although may gotten attention positions, our findings provide converging evidence role exists recognized in