Date of Award
8-1-2024
Degree Name
Master of Science
Department
Economics
First Advisor
Watts, Alison
Abstract
This research examines the main factors that determine how internet-based content creators grow their influence over time. We collected data from the YouTube API and used the collected features in our content spreading simulation model built with Python. We simulated 80,000 scenarios with 8 different sets of initial parameters and analyzed these data using machine learning algorithms such as HDBSCAN and Random Forest. Our findings highlight that while external advantages like higher exposure and social homophily levels are crucial for a content creator's success, an individual's success depends more on how effectively they use these factors. The research also underscores the importance of investing resources in areas with a higher likelihood of positive black swan events, which can significantly accelerate an individual's success, especially in the internet context.
Access
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