Abstract: Techniques for estimating social content interactions are provided. An example method includes determining counts of one or more user interactions with one or more content items created by an author, each user interaction of the one or more user interactions having an associated time, classifying, based on respective associated times of the user interactions, the determined counts of the user interactions with the content items into predetermined time intervals spanning a first duration, computing an engagement model for the author based on the classified counts corresponding to the predetermined time intervals and a number of the content items created by the author and estimating, at a particular time for a second duration, a number of interactions with a particular content item created by the author based on the engagement model and a determined actual number of interactions with the particular content item.

Abstract: In one aspect, a method includes identifying a first user viewing a first set of posts at a social networking service, the first set of posts including one or more posts, determining that the level of engagement of the first user at the social networking service is below a predetermined level, generating a second set of posts in response to determining that the level of engagement of the first user at the social networking service is below a predetermined level, the second set of posts including one or more posts not previously seen by the user and providing the second set of posts for display to the user. Other aspects can be embodied in corresponding systems and apparatus, including computer program products.

Abstract: Systems and methods for determining a user engagement level for a content item are provided. In some aspects, indicia of one or more user interactions with a content item are received. Each user interaction in the one or more user interactions has an associated time and an interaction type. A user engagement level for the content item is determined based on the one or more user interactions, the associated times, and the interaction types. The user engagement level for the content item is stored in association with the content item.

Abstract: A method includes identifying a plurality of items, each having a score and being sorted within a list, identifying one or more variation features, diversifying the list of the plurality of items by processing each of the plurality of items in order of the sorting, the processing for each of the plurality of items including selecting the item as a candidate item, determining one or more demotion criteria with respect to the candidate item, determining if one or more items of the plurality of items meet the demotion criteria with respect to the selected item, modifying the score for at least one of the plurality of items based on a demotion factor, rearranging the list according to the score of each of the plurality of items in response to the modifying and providing the list of the plurality of items for display to the user.

Abstract: A system comprising a processor and a memory storing instructions that, when executed, cause the system to receive a record of data describing user engagement with content items in an online service; prepare the record of data for generating a model characterizing a network effect of a user interaction with a content item in the online service; generate the model characterizing the network effect of the user interaction with the content item in the online service; generate a predicted network effect score for a plurality of content items based on the model; organize the plurality of content items based on the predicted network effect score; and transmit the plurality of organized content items for presentation to a user. The disclosure also includes similar methods and computer program products.

Abstract: Systems and methods for increasing a visibility of a content item with a comment by a close contact are provided. In some aspects, a first content item is received. A ranking for the first content item in a stream for a viewing user is determined based on an upload time of the first content item. A comment for the first content item is received from a first user, where a predicted affinity level of the viewing user for the first user is within an affinity level range. In response to receiving the comment, the ranking for the first content item in the stream for the viewing user is updated based on an upload time of the comment. The stream is provided for the viewing user.

Abstract: Techniques for estimating social content interactions are provided. An example method includes determining counts of one or more user interactions with one or more content items created by an author, each user interaction of the one or more user interactions having an associated time, classifying, based on respective associated times of the user interactions, the determined counts of the user interactions with the content items into predetermined time intervals spanning a first duration, computing an engagement model for the author based on the classified counts corresponding to the predetermined time intervals and a number of the content items created by the author and estimating, at a particular time for a second duration, a number of interactions with a particular content item created by the author based on the engagement model and a determined actual number of interactions with the particular content item.

Abstract: In one aspect, a method includes identifying a plurality of posts, each of the plurality of post being associated with a score and a time, the plurality of posts being ranked according to the score associated with each post, selecting a first post of the plurality of posts as a candidate post, determining a score threshold and time threshold associated with the candidate post, determining if one or more posts of the plurality of posts meet the score threshold and the time threshold associated with the candidate post and reordering the candidate post and the one or more posts according to the time associated with each of the candidate post and the one or more posts when it is determined that one or more posts meet the score threshold and the time threshold.

Abstract: Systems and methods for determining a quality score or a user engagement level for a content item are provided. The quality score is based on a recentness score of the content item, an affinity score between two users and a popularity score of the content item. The user engagement level for the content item is based on user interactions with the content item, associated times of the user interactions, and interaction types of the user interactions. The user engagement level for the content item is stored in association with the content item.

Abstract: The subject matter of this specification can be implemented in, among other things, a computer-implemented method including determining an affinity score representing an affinity of a user with respect to a contact of the user, wherein the affinity score is an indication of a strength of a relationship between the user and the contact, determining an engagement score of the user with respect to the contact, wherein the engagement score in an indication of a probability of the user engaging with a content item associated with the contact, determining an interest score of the user with respect to the contact based on the affinity score and the engagement score and providing a plurality of content items posted by the contact display in an activity stream, the content items being ordered based on the interest score. Other aspects can include corresponding systems, apparatus and computer program products.

Abstract: A system and machine-implemented method including receiving a request for a set of content items within a session, identifying, in response to the request, one or more content items, determining if the session is associated with a continuation token, wherein the continuation token provides information regarding the content items provided for display during the session, generating a continuation token for the session when the session is not associated with a continuation token, providing at least one of the one or more content items for display and updating the continuation token with information regarding the at least one of the one or more content items provided for display and a time stamp.