You shouldn’t be surprised to know that there’s significantly fewer than 6 degrees of separation between you and anyone else on the planet.
These findings come from a new study by scientists from Facebook and the University of Milan. Before you poo-poo it because it was sponsored by 2011’s version of Big Brother, consider that the cohort for the study was 721 million people. Facebook users, yes, but also a full 10% of the world’s populations. Zoinks.
Also not surprising that this ever-increasing shrinkage of the world is being driven in part by the digital world in which we all live. I think for the first time in my life, I can say “Duh!” to something I read in the New York Times: “The research underscores the growing power of the emerging science of social networks.” Wow. I think Lolcats could’ve figured that one out.
For all you social media naysayers who would argue that “friends” takes on relative meaning since it’s likely that you really know a very small percentage of your Facebook friends, please take one stupendously big step forward and join us in the 21st century. As Cornell computer science professorJon Kleinberg says in the article, “It’s the weak ties that make the world small.”
What a great articulation of how social media is bringing people together. Someday we’ be playing three degrees of Kevin Bacon. The only question is how soon, and how much more you’ll have to imbibe if you’re playing the drinking game version.
And PS, a shout-out to Mr. Bacon himself, who I heard speak very impressively and entertainingly at TEDx Midwest about SixDegrees, the charitable organization he's created and maintained.
No comments:
Post a Comment