title: Group colocation behavior in technological social networks.
abstract: We analyze two large datasets from technological networks with location and social data: user location records from an online location-based social networking service, and anonymized telecommunications data from a European cellphone operator, in order to investigate the differences between individual and group behavior with respect to physical location. We discover agreements between the two datasets: firstly, that individuals are more likely to meet with one friend at a place they have not visited before, but tend to meet at familiar locations when with a larger group. We also find that groups of individuals are more likely to meet at places that their other friends have visited, and that the type of a place strongly affects the propensity for groups to meet there. These differences between group and solo mobility has potential technological applications, for example, in venue recommendation in location-based social networks.
authors.affiliation: Computer Laboratory, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Chloë
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.affiliation: Computer Laboratory, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Neal
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lathia
authors.affiliation: Computer Laboratory, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Cecilia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mascolo
authors.affiliation: Computer Laboratory, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Anastasios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Noulas
authors.affiliation: Louvain School of Engineering, Université Catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium.
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Blondel
mesh_terms: D040421:Cell Phone; D016208:Databases, Factual; D033062:Friends; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D009518:New York; D011174:Portugal; D011998:Recreation; D061108:Social Media; D060756:Social Networking; D014195:Travel; D014495:Universities