Modeling Engagement and Disengagement with a Social Network Using the Participation Continuum

The online landscape is an evolving sphere where individual participation in social networks undergoes a complex transitional flow. This research paper introduces a novel framework employing the concepts of participation continuum and transitional flow of persuasion (TFP) to map the user's journey through various stages of interaction in online communities. Through this lens, this research paper elucidates how external factors such as trolling or brand affinity can catalyse shifts in a user's beliefs, attitudes, and engagement levels, thereby propelling him/her through various optimum motive situations from equilibrium to disruption and ultimately to a new state of equilibrium. An algorithm is subsequently presented to quantitatively assess the effectiveness of seduction mechanisms employed by social networks to induce brand identification and user engagement. The research study culminates in a detailed analysis of how this algorithm can strategically guide users from a state of disengagement to committed participation. Through its theoretical framework and algorithmic model, this research paper advances our understanding of persuasive techniques in social networks and provides actionable insights for enhancing user participation and brand loyalty.