Human society’s increasing interconnectedness inspired the discovery of this idea. Karinthy’s the notion was taken and further propagated by the researches made by S. Milgram in 1967. The American sociologist’s study, known as the small world experiment, was intended to note the basic interconnectedness of people. He states, in his findings, that, in total, it took the mail an average of only six times to cover the distance of one country from one end to another.
History and the Origin of the Six Degrees of Separation Theory
The concept of six degrees of separation emerged from the growing awareness of the interconnectedness of human society. Karinthy’s idea was later popularized by a series of studies and experiments, most notably by American sociologist Stanley Milgram in the 1960s. Milgram’s “small-world experiment” aimed to prove that people are more closely connected than they might think. He found that, on average, it took only six steps for a letter to be passed from one person to another across the United States.
It was clear that the Milgram’s study was not free from its defects, the concept of six degrees of separation was easy to grasp for the general public and subsequently it has been supported by the latest research in societal and digital network areas.
The Impact of Social Media
In the world we as human beings live in today, social media among the most important being Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter has greatly reduced the distance between people, a move that has made it easy to access almost anyone. These platforms attract millions of users who create connections, thus making it simpler to find people with whom one might have mutual connections, even from a place that is very far.
Take the very popular LinkedIn, for example, that dedicates its purpose to helping professionals and business people find each other, and get in touch with each other, and is an ideal platform to show which connections users mutually share. You can even use the platform to look for people in the wider network, often finding that you’re just a few connections away from top leaders and managers. Just as, in practice, Facebook through the use of friend suggestions, reaffirms the fact that the world is not as big as it might seem, by showing how you are connected to friends of friends which in most cases will surprise you.
The research carried out over social media, in particular, has not only upheld the classic six degrees of separation theory but has even gone further to bring the number down in some instances. A Facebook study from 2011 brought forth figures, which, in all honesty, were quite surprising: the average degrees of separation between users of the site was not more than 4.74.
The Practical Implications
Having the notion that you actually “know,” even it is just very much in theory if not in practice, almost anyone, has the very real consequences of networking, job and even personal relationships. Here’s how you can use this concept to your advantage:
- Expand Your Network: Opt for a mutually beneficial relationship with your current contacts, and use different social platforms to enlarge your network, both personally and professionally. Take online and offline opportunities to get to know others and to explore different fields where you can meet new connections.
- Ask for Introductions: Even your specific needs can be answered if you make a request to be introduced to a certain person that you want to meet, do this and the connecting person will usually not fail you.
- Build awareness of New Connections: Never undervalue the influence of weak links. These are people in your network that you are not very close to but who might link you with other people. Such weak ties usually bridge the social circles’ differences and, as a result, they give rise to another way of profiting.
- Engage on Social Media: The social media platforms are where you can get the opportunity to explore and expand your extended network. For example, LinkedIn’s “People You May Know” feature or Facebook’s friend suggestions may let you discover previously unknown ties and form new relationships based on them.
- Empower Friendships: Nourish relationships by keeping in touch and being there to help when needed. A deep network is one that values trust and reciprocation, therefore, it helps to open up possibilities for meeting new friends.
- Be Purposeful while Finding the Right People: Make sure you go about connecting the best way when it comes to finding someone in particular. Find out who are the top-notch individuals in your closest circle that are the closest to the person you need as of the present.
The Power of Connection
The concept that one can meet a stranger through six people is a very touching way to realize the interconnected structure of society. Not only in our personal but also in our professional lives, the use of this theory has a great effect on people’s relations, personal developments, and horizons. While technology plays a huge part in tightening the bonds among people, the world has now become not much bigger and the ability to communicate with anyone from anywhere has never been so great. Regardless of whether you are after a job, a mentor or a friend, always bear in mind that you are not far from your target due to the fact that your desired result is just a few connections away.
