Effects of time-dependent diffusion behaviors on the rumor spreading in social networks

•We incorporate time-dependent diffusion behaviors into a SIR-like rumor spreading model.•The combination of the three variable diffusion behaviors provides a faster and larger spreading expansion capacity.•Network structure matters considerably in rumor spreading dynamics.

When considering roles of realistic external forces (e.g. authorities) and internal forces (e.g. the forgetting nature of human), diffusion behaviors like spreading, stifling and forgetting behaviors are time-dependent. They were incorporated in an SIR-like rumor spreading model to investigate the effects to rumor spreading dynamics. Mean-field equations were derived, and the steady state analysis was conducted. Simulations were carried out on different complex networks. We demonstrated that the combination of the three variable diffusion behaviors provides a faster and larger spreading expansion capacity. Network structure matters considerably in rumor spreading dynamics.