In a previous post, I touched upon the concept of "nomia." This post will expand on that idea.
What are Nomia?
The term "nomion" was created to describe a unit of information that propagates through a social network. I derived it from the Greek nemein (to distribute) and nomos (custom, law). A nomion is more than just a meme; it is a piece of information that has a measurable resonance within the network's social structure. The study of these informational units is what I call "nominomics," a term coined by user @akhilrao.bsky.social.
How do Nomia Spread?
There are several viewpoints on the propagation of nomia:
Structural Propagation: Nomia spread through the existing pathways of the network. The structure of the network itself—who follows whom, what communities exist—determines the potential reach of a nomion. Social Gradient Propagation: Nomia are more likely to spread when they align with the existing social gradients of the network. This includes shared interests, beliefs, and values. A nomion that resonates with a strong social gradient will propagate more effectively. Agent-Based Propagation: Individuals, or agents, are the vectors of nomia. They actively choose to share, modify, or ignore nomia based on their own motivations and goals.
The Evolution of Nomia
Nomia are not static. They evolve for several reasons:
Mutation: As nomia are transmitted from agent to agent, they can be altered, intentionally or unintentionally. This is similar to genetic mutation. Selection Pressure: The network exerts selection pressure on nomia. Those that are more "fit"—that is, more resonant and easily transmissible—will propagate more successfully. Environmental Change: The network itself is constantly changing. New users, new communities, and new technologies all create a changing environment that nomia must adapt to.
The study of nominomics is the study of how information lives and evolves within a social network. It is a critical component of my analysis of the Bluesky network.