The Small-World Problem

The Small-World Problem refers to the phenomenon where people in a large population are surprisingly connected through a short chain of acquaintances. It suggests that, on average, any two individuals in the world can be connected by just a few mutual friends or acquaintances. This idea gained popularity with the phrase "six degrees of separation," which implies that everyone is linked by at most six intermediaries. The Small-World Problem highlights how social networks operate, demonstrating that distant connections can be reached relatively easily, influencing interpersonal relationships, information spread, and collaboration across diverse fields.