Clock-Time Coevolution: Information Cadence Drives Link Churn and Community Structure

Krishnarao and Selvamani argue that shorter intervals between information exposures increase individual-level polarization. We take the next step: make information cadence an endogenous driver of tie formation and dissolution rates. Specifically, we propose a coevolution model where inter-arrival times of new content scale the probability of triadic closure vs. exploration, shifting the relative weights of micro-mechanisms (Block’s finding that reciprocity, transitivity, and homophily interact with diminishing returns motivates this trade-off). Using multi-LLM agent networks (Papachristou & Yuan), which already reproduce human-like principles and adapt to context (homophily in friendship, heterophily in organizational settings), we can experimentally manipulate cadence (e.g., feed speed) and measure resulting link churn, community modularity, and the homophily-heterophily pivot. The novelty is to treat “time between exposures” as a structural control knob for network evolution, not just opinion states. Predictions include: (a) fast cadence increases exploration early but locks in echo chambers later due to confirmation-driven rewiring; (b) cadence heterogeneity across individuals produces asymmetric bridging; (c) platform-level shocks (feed acceleration) induce measurable regime shifts in closure and mixing. This has implications for platform design, suggesting cadence-aware throttling as a tool for maintaining integration without suppressing engagement.

References:

1. Network Formation and Dynamics Among Multi-LLMs. Marios Papachristou, Yuan Yuan (2024). arXiv.org.
2. Impact of the Network Size and Frequency of Information Receipt on Polarization in Social Networks. Sudhakar Krishnarao, Shaja Arul Selvamani (2024). Complex.
3. Network Evolution and Social Situations. Per Block (2018).