This chapter demonstrates how commonly used indicators for detecting trafficking in online escort adverts are ineffective and fail to grasp the wider complexities associated with the sex market. The focus is shifted from online adverts to advert networks, and a combination of methods associated with social network analysis is applied to explore their relational qualities. The results suggest that indicator-led approaches to identify trafficking may lead to a false sense of confidence, whilst failing to holistically assess how adverts are related to one another. Moreover, a range of factors are demonstrated to predict tie formation in advert networks, and to some extent, network complexity mediates this process. More diverse connections are identified in complex networks, implying that the underlying, offline organisation of the network may also be more complex.

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Complexity, Similarity and Tie Formation in Advert Networks

  • Richard Kjellgren

摘要

This chapter demonstrates how commonly used indicators for detecting trafficking in online escort adverts are ineffective and fail to grasp the wider complexities associated with the sex market. The focus is shifted from online adverts to advert networks, and a combination of methods associated with social network analysis is applied to explore their relational qualities. The results suggest that indicator-led approaches to identify trafficking may lead to a false sense of confidence, whilst failing to holistically assess how adverts are related to one another. Moreover, a range of factors are demonstrated to predict tie formation in advert networks, and to some extent, network complexity mediates this process. More diverse connections are identified in complex networks, implying that the underlying, offline organisation of the network may also be more complex.