SocialMeta 2023

The 2nd International Workshop on Social and Metaverse Computing and Networking In conjunction with IEEE ICDCS'23

July 18, 2023 / Hong Kong, China

Venue: Sheraton Hong Kong Hotel & Towers

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Image from iStock

While online social network services and applications have found unprecedented presence today (e.g., messaging, gaming, advertising, and recommendation), multiple novel and emerging technologies have already started to shape the next-generation online social networks, including the “metaverse”. On the one hand, Augmented/Virtual Reality (AR/VR), Internet of Things (IoT), and Multi-access Edge Computing (MEC) are bringing new mobile computing and communication paradigms for provisioning and accessing online social networks, social media, massive gaming, etc. On the other hand, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML), characterized by recent breakthroughs of deep learning and big data, are finding successful applications to online social networks, including detecting/preventing spam, fraud, and misinformation and enhancing service experience via intelligent user interactions (e.g., recognition) with texts, images, and voices. Yet, how to exploit and synergize all such state-of-the-art technologies to revolutionize online social networks is still in its infancy and demands comprehensive investigation and research.

The goal of the 2nd International Workshop on Social and Metaverse Computing and Networking (SocialMeta) is to bring together scientists, researchers, engineers, and practitioners to identify new problems and discuss the latest research ideas and results, especially those related to novel and emerging technologies, regarding online social networks and the metaverse. SocialMeta focuses on all aspects of online social networks and the metaverse, including architecture, design, implementation, measurement, modeling, algorithm, analysis, and theory. The topics include but are not limited to the following:

  • Mobile and location-based online social networks and the AR/VR-based metaverse
  • Reputation, incentives, and economics in online social networks and the metaverse
  • Security and privacy in online social networks and the metaverse
  • AR/VR, IoT, wearables, and crowdsourcing for online social networks and the metaverse - Cloud, edge, SDN, and NFV for online social networks and the metaverse
  • Non-terrestrial networks, UAV, and 5G/6G for online social networks and the metaverse
  • AI/ML, data science, and blockchains for online social networks and the metaverse
  • Measurement of online social network and metaverse systems and applications
  • Modeling, algorithms, and theories for online social networks and the metaverse

Prof. Bu Zhong

Keynote 1: Exploring Online Social Networks: Synergizing Emerging Technologies with Social Science Perspectives
Abstract: Online social network services and applications have experienced unprecedented growth and prevalence. The future of these networks is being shaped by emerging technologies such as Augmented/Virtual Reality, Internet of Things, Multi-access Edge Computing, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning and Metaverse techniques. Social scientists can contribute to the study of these technological advances by examining their societal and human implications on online social networks. This includes investigating their impact on social interactions, behavior, relationships, privacy, security, and ethical concerns. Collaboration between social scientists and scholars in information and computing sciences is encouraged to design and develop socially responsible online social network services and applications. The joint efforts of these fields highlight the importance of incorporating concepts and methods from humanities and social sciences to fully understand the impacts of digital technology on online social networks and beyond.
Bio: Dr. Bu Zhong is a Professor and Head of the Department of Interactive Media, School of Communication at the Hong Kong Baptist University. He is also the Senior Editor of Computers in Human Behavior. His research applies decision-making theories to the analysis of information processing and its effects on behavior change, mental health, and social well-being. He explores human-technology interactions as a complex adaptive system, in which the complexity of social systems, digital technology use, and behavior change has been extensively scrutinized. His scholarly works demonstrate a deep commitment to comprehending the intricate connections between interactive media, digital technology, and human communities.

Dr. Xueyan Tang

Keynote 2: Influence Analysis and Estimation in Social Advertising
Abstract: Online social networks serve as important media for users to gain information in the modern world. The emergence of Metaverse further bridges the connectivity of social media with mixed reality technologies to enrich the form and experience of social networking. With the vast user population on social media, plentiful social connections among users serve as fertile soil for advertising campaigns as information can be propagated efficiently and widely leveraging the word-of-mouth effects. Influential users with large audiences over online social networks are of great values to initiate marketing campaigns. In this talk, we will present our work on influence analysis and estimation in social advertising. We will discuss several application scenarios, including pricing influential users based on their potential influence spreads in an advertising campaign, and analyzing their influence contributions given the advertising campaign result.
Bio: Xueyan Tang is an associate professor in the School of Computer Science and Engineering at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. He received the BEng degree in computer science and engineering from Shanghai Jiao Tong University, and the PhD degree in computer science from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. His research interests include distributed systems, cloud computing, online social networks, mobile and pervasive computing. He has served as an associate editor of IEEE Transactions on Parallel and Distributed Systems, and a program co-chair of IEEE ICPADS 2012, CloudCom 2014, and ICDCS 2020. He is now serving as an associate editor of IEEE Transactions on Cloud Computing.

Tuesday, July 18, 2023

Venue: Sheraton Hong Kong Hotel & Towers

All times listed in Hong Kong time

8:45-9:10 Opening Session

9:10-9:30 Keynote 1

Exploring Online Social Networks: Synergizing Emerging Technologies with Social Science Perspectives

Prof. Bu Zhong (Hong Kong Baptist University)

9:30-10:30 Keynote 2

Influence Analysis and Estimation in Social Advertising

Dr. Xueyan Tang (Nanyang Technological University)

10:30-11:10 Panel Discussion

The Role of Interdisciplinary Collaboration Between Computer Science and Social Science in Addressing Societal Challenges

11:10-11:15 Break

11:15-12:15 Session 1

Session Chair: Dr. Shuai Wang

Network Traffic in the Metaverse: The Case of Social VR

Ahmad Alhilal (Hong Kong University of Science and Technology), Kirill Shatilov (Hong Kong University of Science and Technology), Gareth Tyson (Hong Kong University of Science and Technology), Tristan Braud (Hong Kong University of Science and Technology) and Pan Hui (Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou))

The Future of Work: Do We Need Interactive and Collaborative Offices? The Most Interesting Survey in a Post-Covid World

Zhuo Huang, Hanjing Wang and Xinrui Shi (Hong Kong Baptist University)

Learning-based Incentive Mechanism for Task Freshness-aware Vehicular Twin Migration

Junhong Zhang (Guangdong University of Technology), Jiangtian Nie (Nanyang Technological University), Jinbo Wen (Guangdong University of Technology), Jiawen Kang (Guangdong University of Technology), Minrui Xu (Nanyang Technological University), Xiaofeng Luo (Guangdong University of Technology) and Dusit Niyato (Nanyang Technological University)

12:15-14:00 Lunch Break

14:00-15:00 Session 2

Session Chair: Dr. Jingpu Duan

iCOIL: Scenario Aware Autonomous Parking Via Integrated Constrained Optimization and Imitation Learning

Lexiong Huang (SIAT, Chinese Academy of Sciences), Ruihua Han (University of Hong Kong), Guoliang Li (SIAT, Chinese Academy of Sciences), He Li (University of Macau), Shuai Wang (SIAT, Chinese Academy of Sciences), Yang Wang (SIAT, Chinese Academy of Sciences) and Chengzhong Xu (University of Macau)

Emulating High-performance Networks with CNNet

Yang Peng (Southern University of Science and Technology), Yupeng Xiao (Southern University of Science and Technology), Jingpu Duan (Pengcheng Laboratory), Xiaoxi Zhang (Sun Yat-sen University) and Weichao Li (Pengcheng Laboratory)

The Metaverse: Exploring the Convergence of Technologies and Social Dynamics

Chao Wu and Yujia Li (Zhejiang University)

15:00-15:15 Break

15:15-15:55 Session 3

Session Chair: Mr. Yifeng Luo

Empowering the Metaverse with Generative AI: Survey and Future Directions

Hua Xuan Qin and Pan Hui (Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou))

Embedding the Social Value in Algorithmic Innovation and Companies Competitiveness: Evidence from the Food-delivery Platforms in China

Liwei Chen (Fudan University), Xin Gao (Tsinghua University), Jingjing Qu (Shanghai AI Lab) and Lin Tang (Shanghai Jiao Tong University)

15:55-16:00 Closing Remarks
Registration

Important Dates

Submission deadline

February 28, 2023

March 18, 2023 (AoE)

Notification due

April 10, 2023

April 17, 2023

Camera-ready paper due

May 8, 2023

End of May

Workshop

July 18, 2023
SUBMIT NOW

Authors are encouraged to submit papers describing original and unpublished research, not currently under review in other venues, addressing state-of-the-art research and development in all aspects of mobile computing, online social networks, or the intersection of both. In particular, innovative, early-stage ideas and preliminary results are welcome. The length of the paper must be no more than 6 pages in the IEEE double-column format, including references. The first page must contain an abstract, the name(s) and affiliation(s) of the author(s). Each submission will receive at least three independent, blind peer reviews from the program committee. At least one of the authors of every accepted paper must register and present the paper at the workshop.


The program committee will select one paper for the Best Paper Award and one paper for the Best Student Paper Award. Selected papers will be recommended to the Journal of Social Computing (JSC) published by IEEE and Tsinghua University Press.

Steering Committee:

  • Xiaoming Fu (Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Germany)
  • Pan Hui (The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong)
  • Vassilis Kostakos (University of Melbourne, Australia)
  • Jörg Ott (Technical University of Munich, Germany)
  • Antonia Tulino (New York University, USA; University of Naples Federico II, Italy)
  • Sasu Tarkoma (University of Helsinki, Finland)

General Chairs:

  • Yang Chen (Fudan University, China)
  • Lei Jiao (University of Oregon, USA)

TPC Chairs:

  • Yupeng Li (Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong)
  • Zehui Xiong (Singapore University of Technology and Design, Singapore)

TPC Members:

  • Felix Beierle (University of Würzburg, Germany)
  • Wei Cai (The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, China)
  • Junyang Chen (Shenzhen University, China)
  • Shenghui Cheng (WestLake University, China)
  • Mingzhe Chen (University of Miami, USA)
  • Dimitrios Chatzopoulos (University College Dublin, Ireland)
  • Hong-Ning Dai (Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong)
  • Jingpu Duan (Peng Cheng Laboratory, Shenzhen, China)
  • Qingyuan Gong (Fudan University, China)
  • Jianxiong Guo (Beijing Normal University, China)
  • Zehua Guo (Beijing Institute of Technology, China)
  • Kai Han (The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong)
  • Zhenhua Han (Microsoft Research Asia)
  • Huawei Huang (Sun Yat-sen University, China)
  • Yidan Hu (Rochester Institute of Technology, USA)
  • Jingkun Hu (Worldmoney Blockchain Management Co., Limited, Hong Kong)
  • Zhicong Lu (City Unversity of Hong Kong, Hong Kong)
  • Lik-Hang Lee (The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong)
  • Bin Li (The Pennsylvania State University, USA)
  • Feng Liang (Shenzhen MSU-BIT University, China)
  • Li Liu (The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou), China)
  • Xiaofan Liu (City Unversity of Hong Kong, Hong Kong)
  • Xuan Ning (BNU-HKBU United International College, China)
  • Kai Shu (Illinois Institute of Technology, USA)
  • Xiang Su (Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Norway)
  • Xueyan Tang (National University of Singapore, Singapore)
  • Haisheng Tan (University of Science and Technology of China, China)
  • Guangmo Tong (University of Delaware, USA)
  • Yanlin Wang (Sun Yat-sen University, China)
  • Shuai Wang (SIAT, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China)
  • Shiqiang Wang (IBM T. J. Watson Research Center, USA)
  • Cheng-Jun Wang (Nanjing University, China)
  • Xiaohui Wang (City Unversity of Hong Kong, Hong Kong)
  • Chao Wu (Zhejiang University, China)
  • Shuai Xu (Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, China)
  • Haoran Yu (Beijing Institute of Technology, China)
  • Min Yang (SIAT, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China)
  • Yali Yuan (Southeast University, China)
  • Eiko Yoneki (University of Cambridge, UK)
  • Yang Zhang (CISPA Helmholtz Center for Information Security, Germany)
  • Pengyuan Zhou (University of Science and Technology of China, China)
  • Yifei Zou (Shandong University, China)
  • Yong Zhang (SIAT, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China)
  • Xiaoxi Zhang (Sun Yat-sen University, China)

Web Chair:

  • Yifeng Luo (Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong)

Publicity Chair:

  • Dacheng Wen (The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong)

SocialMeta is in fact a successor of our previous workshop series, HotPOST, which refers to "Hot Topics in Pervasive Mobile and Online Social Networking". HotPOST has been held annually in 2009-2020, which was in conjunction with ACM MobiHoc and IEEE ICDCS in 2012-2017 and with IEEE INFOCOM in 2018-2020.