Municipal Elections 2026 in the Netherlands: Part III
Analysis: Network visualizations
Undirected Graph
Which groups of accounts form conversation clusters, and are those clusters isolated or connected?
In the undirected graph, lines do not contain arrows. A line between two accounts simply means that they interacted, regardless of who posted and who responded. This makes it easier to observe the overall cluster structure of the network.
The undirected graph contains slightly more nodes (89 vs. 87) and connections (176 vs. 171) than the directed version, because some back-and-forth interactions that appeared as two separate directed arrows are merged into a single undirected line.
What Clusters Reveal
The positions of the dots in the undirected graph are automatically determined: accounts that interact frequently are pulled closer together, while accounts that rarely interact are pushed further apart. This means that visually dense groups of dots represent accounts that frequently interact with one another.
Groups of closely positioned dots — especially when they share the same cluster color — represent online conversation bubbles: accounts that primarily interact with each other and have limited interaction with accounts outside their group.
What to Look For:
Dense Color Clusters: A dense group of similarly colored dots indicates a highly cohesive community. In this network, all six clusters display high cohesion (see Clusters in Detail).
Bridge Accounts: A dot positioned between two colored areas and connected to both functions as a bridge between clusters — an account whose content or interactions span multiple audiences. Such accounts can transfer narratives from one bubble to another.
Isolated Components: Separate clusters without visible connections to the main network are self-contained bubbles. Within this time frame, there is no visible dialogue between them and the rest of the network.
Concentration of Bot Scores: Pay attention to the colors of the border rings within each cluster. A cluster where most dots have orange or red borders deserves further investigation.
How to Use This Graph
Start by observing the overall shape. Are there clearly separate groups, or does the graph appear as one densely interconnected mass?
Count the distinct color areas. Each color represents one cluster — accounts that mainly interact with each other. In this network, there are six clusters.
Zoom into the largest cluster to view individual account names. Hover over a dot to see the account name, bot score, and cluster affiliation.
Look for thin “bridges” — single lines connecting otherwise separate clusters. These represent the only visible connection points between two communities.
Colors and Bot Scores
Two separate color systems are used in this graph: The fill color of the dot shows which cluster an account belongs to. The border color shows the bot score. In the undirected graph, the fill color directly represents the bot score. The bot score measures how regular and machine-like an account’s posting rhythm is. A score close to 1.0 means the account posts at unusually consistent times — a pattern associated with automated scheduling software. A score close to 0.0 means the account posts at irregular, human-like times.
Important to Note: The bot score is based exclusively on timing patterns. It says nothing about the content of the posts. A news organization publishing on a fixed schedule may receive a high bot score for the same reason as an actual bot account.
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Bot score below 0.6 — the account posts at irregular, human-like times.
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Moderately elevated bot score — the account shows somewhat regular posting behavior that may indicate partial automation or highly structured scheduling.
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High bot score — the account displays strongly regular, machine-like posting patterns associated with automated or coordinated behavior.