This paper investigates the role of positive and negative links in online social networks, focusing on how they influence the structure and dynamics of these networks. The authors analyze three large online social networks: the trust network of Epinions, the social network of Slashdot, and the voting network of Wikipedia. They compare two theories of signed networks: structural balance theory and status theory. Structural balance theory posits that triangles with three positive edges (T3) or one positive edge (T1) are more likely than triangles with two positive edges (T2) or none (T0). Status theory, on the other hand, considers the relative status of users and predicts that positive links indicate higher status for the recipient, while negative links indicate lower status. The authors find that structural balance theory is not always accurate in explaining the observed patterns of positive and negative links, particularly in directed networks. Status theory, however, provides a better explanation of the observed edge signs and offers insights into the underlying social mechanisms. The study shows that positive links are more likely to occur in densely connected groups of nodes, while negative links tend to act as bridges between these groups. The findings suggest that users are more likely to maintain positive relationships when they are embedded within a network of positive ties, and that negative links may serve as a way to express disagreement or distrust. The authors also examine the role of reciprocation in directed networks, finding that positive links are more likely to be reciprocated than negative links. They find that in the case of positive links, balance theory predicts that the reciprocated link should also be positive, while status theory predicts that the reciprocated link should be negative. However, the data supports the balance interpretation in both Epinions and Wikipedia. The study highlights the importance of considering both the structure and the direction of links in understanding the dynamics of online social networks. The results suggest that status theory provides a more accurate explanation of the observed patterns of positive and negative links in online social networks than structural balance theory.This paper investigates the role of positive and negative links in online social networks, focusing on how they influence the structure and dynamics of these networks. The authors analyze three large online social networks: the trust network of Epinions, the social network of Slashdot, and the voting network of Wikipedia. They compare two theories of signed networks: structural balance theory and status theory. Structural balance theory posits that triangles with three positive edges (T3) or one positive edge (T1) are more likely than triangles with two positive edges (T2) or none (T0). Status theory, on the other hand, considers the relative status of users and predicts that positive links indicate higher status for the recipient, while negative links indicate lower status. The authors find that structural balance theory is not always accurate in explaining the observed patterns of positive and negative links, particularly in directed networks. Status theory, however, provides a better explanation of the observed edge signs and offers insights into the underlying social mechanisms. The study shows that positive links are more likely to occur in densely connected groups of nodes, while negative links tend to act as bridges between these groups. The findings suggest that users are more likely to maintain positive relationships when they are embedded within a network of positive ties, and that negative links may serve as a way to express disagreement or distrust. The authors also examine the role of reciprocation in directed networks, finding that positive links are more likely to be reciprocated than negative links. They find that in the case of positive links, balance theory predicts that the reciprocated link should also be positive, while status theory predicts that the reciprocated link should be negative. However, the data supports the balance interpretation in both Epinions and Wikipedia. The study highlights the importance of considering both the structure and the direction of links in understanding the dynamics of online social networks. The results suggest that status theory provides a more accurate explanation of the observed patterns of positive and negative links in online social networks than structural balance theory.