Understanding 'network effect' on human societies

The main objective of the EINS initiative is to determine what Internet science is or what it should be. They will shed light on whether the interaction of disciplines will help push Internet science further. For instance, the team is investigating whether Internet science can transform online social networking, and is examining which specific analytic techniques and experimental methods from the social and natural sciences can enhance the traditional apparatus of Internet technology scientists.

http://cordis.europa.eu/fetch?CALLER=EN_NEWS&ACTION=D&SESSION=&RCN=35310