Connection tier structure defining for control of multi-tier propagation of social network content

1. A computer-implemented method performed by one or more processors, the method comprising:

receiving interaction data from a first user of a social network and from additional users of the social network, wherein the additional users are connections of the first user in the social network, wherein the connections were established via an invitation being extended between the first user and each of the additional users and via an acceptance of the invitation from the first user or from each of the additional users;

analyzing the interaction data to determine a strength of relationship for each connection with respect to the first user;

defining a tier structure in the social network for the connections of the first user, wherein the tier structure comprises tiers, wherein each tier of the tier structure corresponds to a strength level of the relationship, and wherein a first tier of the tier structure corresponds to a greatest level of the relationship to the first user;

assigning each connection of the first user in the social network to one of the tiers of the tier structure based on the strength of the relationship;

limiting, for a post of the first user in the social network, an initial propagation of the post to connections of the first tier;

monitoring feedback to the post in the social network to determine a level of maturation of a thread, the feedback being provided by the connections of the first tier, the post and the feedback together forming the thread; and

in response to determining that the thread has satisfied a maturity threshold, propagating the thread to connections of a second tier of the tier structure.

2. The computer-implemented method according to claim 1 , wherein the interaction data comprises data produced from direct interactions of the first user and the additional users.

3. The computer-implemented method according to claim 1 , wherein the interaction data comprises data produced from direct interactions of the first user and the additional users in the social network.

4. The computer-implemented method according to claim 1 , wherein the interaction data comprises data produced from indirect interactions of the first user and the connections in the social network, and wherein the indirect interactions are to a common first object in the social network.

5. The computer-implemented method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

monitoring further feedback in the thread in the social network; and

in response to determining that the thread has satisfied a further maturity threshold, propagating the thread to connections of a third tier of the tier structure.

6. The computer-implemented method according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the defining and the assigning comprises performing K-means clustering.

7. The computer-implement method according to claim 1 , wherein the monitoring comprises performing natural language processing that implements topic-specific key elements.

8. A computer system for tier structure definition and for control of multi-tier propagation of social network content, the computer system comprising:

one or more processors, one or more computer-readable memories, one or more computer-readable tangible storage medium, and program instructions stored on at least one of the one or more computer-readable tangible storage medium for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more computer-readable memories, wherein the computer system is capable of performing a method comprising:

receiving interaction data from a first user of the social network and from additional users of a social network, wherein the additional users are connections of the first user in the social network, wherein the connections were established via an invitation being extended between the first user and each of the additional users and via an acceptance of the invitation from the first user or from each of the additional users;

analyzing the interaction data to determine a strength of relationship for each connection with respect to the first user;

defining a tier structure in the social network for the connections of the first user, wherein the tier structure comprises tiers, wherein each tier of the tier structure corresponds to a strength level of the relationship, and wherein a first tier of the tier structure corresponds to a greatest level of the relationship to the first user;

assigning each connection of the first user in the social network to one of the tiers of the tier structure based on the strength of the relationship;

limiting, for a post of the first user in the social network, an initial propagation of the post to connections of the first tier;

monitoring feedback to the post in the social network to determine a level of maturation of a thread, the feedback being provided by the connections of the first tier, the post and the feedback together forming the thread; and

in response to determining that the thread has satisfied a maturity threshold, propagating the thread to connections of a second tier of the tier structure.

9. The computer system according to claim 8 , wherein the interaction data comprises data produced from direct interactions of the first user and the additional users.

10. The computer system according to claim 8 , wherein the interaction data comprises data produced from direct interactions of the first user and the additional users in the social network.

11. The computer system according to claim 8 , wherein the interaction data comprises data produced from indirect interactions of the first user and the connections in the social network, and wherein the indirect interactions are to a common first object in the social network.

12. The computer system according to claim 8 , wherein the method further comprises:

monitoring further feedback in the thread in the social network; and

in response to determining that the thread has satisfied a further maturity threshold, propagating the thread to connections of a third tier of the tier structure.

13. The computer system according to claim 8 , wherein at least one of the defining and the assigning comprises performing K-means clustering.

14. The computer system according to claim 8 , wherein the monitoring comprises performing natural language processing that implements topic-specific key elements.

15. A computer program product for tier structure definition and for control of multi-tier propagation of social network content, the computer program product comprising a computer-readable storage media having program instructions embodied therewith, the program instructions being executable by a processor to cause the processor to perform a method comprising:

receiving interaction data from a first user of the social network and from additional users of a social network, wherein the additional users are connections of the first user in the social network, wherein the connections were established via an invitation being extended between the first user and each of the additional users and via an acceptance of the invitation from the first user or from each of the additional users;

analyzing the interaction data to determine a strength of relationship for each connection with respect to the first user;

defining a tier structure in the social network for the connections of the first user, wherein the tier structure comprises tiers, wherein each tier of the tier structure corresponds to a strength level of the relationship, and wherein a first tier of the tier structure corresponds to a greatest level of the relationship to the first user;

assigning each connection of the first user in the social network to one of the tiers of the tier structure based on the strength of the relationship;

limiting, for a post of the first user in the social network, an initial propagation of the post to connections of the first tier;

monitoring feedback to the post in the social network to determine a level of maturation of a thread, the feedback being provided by the connections of the first tier, the post and the feedback together forming the thread; and

in response to determining that the thread has satisfied a maturity threshold, propagating the thread to connections of a second tier of the tier structure.

16. The computer program product according to claim 15 , wherein the interaction data comprises data produced from direct interactions of the first user and the additional users.

17. The computer program product according to claim 15 , wherein the interaction data comprises data produced from direct interactions of the first user and the additional users in the social network.

18. The computer program product according to claim 15 , wherein the interaction data comprises data produced from indirect interactions of the first user and the connections in the social network, and wherein the indirect interactions are to a common first object in the social network.

19. The computer program product according to claim 15 , wherein the method further comprises:

monitoring further feedback in the thread in the social network; and

in response to determining that the thread has satisfied a further maturity threshold, propagating the thread to connections of a third tier of the tier structure.

20. The computer program product according to claim 15 , wherein at least one of the defining and the assigning comprises performing K-means clustering.