Trust Management in Online Social Networks
What is Trust? (Very Basic)
Meaning of Trust
Trust means believing that a person or system is honest and safe.
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In online social networks, trust means:
Believing a user is real
Believing shared information is true
Feeling safe to interact
Simple example
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You trust your college friend more than a stranger on Instagram.
You reply faster to messages from known contacts.
Why Trust is Important Online
Many users are unknown
Anyone can create fake accounts
Wrong trust can cause loss or harm
Example
Trusting a fake seller on Instagram can cause money loss.
Trust and Policies
What are Trust Policies?
Trust policies are rules set by social media platforms to keep users safe.
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They decide:
Who can post
What content is allowed
How reports are handled
Example
Facebook removes fake accounts.
Instagram blocks reported users.
Why Policies Matter
Protect users
Reduce fake activity
Maintain platform quality
College example
College has rules to avoid cheating.
Social media has rules to avoid misuse.
Exam Tip 📌
👉 Trust policies = safety rules of social platforms.
Trust and Reputation Systems
What is Reputation?
Reputation means how people see you based on past actions.
Good actions → Good reputation
Bad actions → Bad reputation
Example
A student who always helps others has good reputation.
Trust and Reputation System
Social networks use reputation to decide trust.
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Based on:
Likes
Reviews
Followers
Past behavior
Example
Seller with 5-star rating on shopping app is trusted more.
Simple Table: Trust vs Reputation
| Trust | Reputation |
|---|---|
| Feeling of belief | Public opinion |
| Can be personal | Seen by everyone |
| Short-term | Built over time |
Trust in Online Social Networks
How Trust Works Online
No face-to-face meeting
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Trust depends on:
Profile details
Activity history
Mutual friends
Example
You trust a LinkedIn profile with full details more.
Problems in Online Trust
Fake profiles
Fake reviews
False information
Trust Properties
Key Properties of Trust
1. Subjective
Trust differs from person to person
Example
You trust one classmate more than another.
2. Dynamic
Trust changes with time
Example
A friend loses trust after cheating.
3. Context-based
Trust depends on situation
Example
You trust a friend for notes, not for money.
Remember This ✅
👉 Trust is not fixed. It changes.
Trust Components
Main Components of Trust
1. Trustor
Person who gives trust
Example
You trusting a seller.
2. Trustee
Person who receives trust
Example
The seller being trusted.
3. Trust Value
Level of trust (high or low)
Example
High trust for Amazon, low for unknown site.
Social Trust and Social Capital
What is Social Trust?
Social trust is trust between people in a community.
Example
Trust among classmates.
What is Social Capital?
Social capital means value of relationships.
More connections
Better support
More opportunities
Example
Seniors helping juniors in placements.
Why Social Capital Matters
Helps in jobs
Helps in learning
Helps in growth
Trust Evaluation Models
What is Trust Evaluation?
Checking how trustworthy a user is.
How Trust is Evaluated
Profile age
Activity level
Reviews
Reports
Example
Old Amazon seller with many reviews is trusted.
Simple Trust Evaluation Flow
Profile → Activity → Reviews → Trust Score
Trust, Credibility, and Reputation
What is Credibility?
Credibility means the believability of information.
Example
News from the official site is more credible.
Difference Table
| Term | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Trust | Personal belief | Trusting a friend |
| Credibility | Belief in info | Trusted news |
| Reputation | Public image | 5-star seller |
Online Social Media and Policing
What is Online Policing?
Monitoring social media to stop misuse.
Fake news
Hate speech
Crime planning
Example
Police tracking fake job scams.
Why Policing is Needed
Public safety
Crime prevention
Information Privacy in Online Social Media
What is Information Privacy?
Keeping personal data safe.
Phone number
Photos
Location
Information Disclosure
When users share personal data.
Example
Posting phone number on Facebook.
Effects of Over Sharing
Identity theft
Stalking
Fraud
Remember This ⚠️
👉 Share less, stay safe.
Phishing in Online Social Media
What is Phishing?
Phishing means cheating users to steal data.
Fake links
Fake messages
Example
“Your account will be blocked. Click link.”
Common Phishing Signs
Urgent messages
Unknown links
Fake rewards
How to Avoid Phishing
Do not click unknown links
Check sender
Use strong passwords
Identifying Fraudulent Entities
What are Fraudulent Entities?
Fake users or pages created to cheat people.
How to Identify Them
New account
No real photos
Too-good offers
Example
“Win ₹10,000 now” messages.
Exam Tip 📌
👉 Fraud detection = checking fake behavior.
Possible Exam Questions
Short Answer
Define trust in online social networks.
What is phishing?
What is reputation system?
Long Answer
Explain trust management with examples.
Discuss phishing and prevention methods.
Explain trust, credibility, and reputation.
Quick Revision Table
| Topic | Key Point |
|---|---|
| Trust | Belief |
| Reputation | Past actions |
| Phishing | Fake messages |
| Privacy | Data safety |
Final Summary (Easy Revision)
Trust keeps users safe online.
Reputation helps decide trust.
Privacy protects personal data.
Phishing is a major online threat.
Always verify before trusting.