Model Diffusion of a Hashtag Across a Music-Discovery Platform
Overview
What this challenge is about.
You receive 30 days of hashtag-usage data (about 2.4 million events) with account metadata and the follow graph between active hashtag users. Fit an information-diffusion model (Independent Cascade or a logistic seed-attribution model), identify candidate seed accounts, and estimate how much of the spike is attributable to the top 50 seeds versus organic adoption. Quantify uncertainty with a bootstrap. Deliver a notebook, results table, and 3-page memo with an influencer-budget recommendation.
The Brief
What you'll do, and what you'll demonstrate.
Attribute a hashtag-adoption spike between organic diffusion and seeded influencer activity, with quantified uncertainty.
Earning criteria — what you'll demonstrate
- Fit an information-diffusion model on a real social graph
- Distinguish seeded from organic adoption with quantified uncertainty
- Run a bootstrap to surface attribution stability
- Communicate causal-attribution caveats honestly to a budget owner
Program Fit
Where this fits in your program.
Sharpens the same skills your degree expects you to demonstrate.
Skills
Skills you'll demonstrate.
Each one shows up on your verified credential.
Careers
Roles this prepares you for.
Real titles. Real skill bridges. Pick the one closest to your trajectory.
Data Scientist
Fitting a diffusion model on real platform data and translating it into a budget recommendation is exactly the growth-data-scientist's daily work.
This challenge sharpens
- diffusion-models
- causal-attribution
- data-storytelling
AI Product Manager
Owning the attribution methodology behind a budget decision is increasingly part of the AI PM's job on growth-heavy platforms.
This challenge sharpens
- causal-attribution
- data-storytelling
- diffusion-models
Applied AI Scientist
Sensitivity analysis on causal attribution is the applied-AI scientist's craft on any team that takes attribution seriously.
This challenge sharpens
- bootstrap-analysis
- causal-attribution
- diffusion-models