by Kimberly A. Smith

Created on: January 30, 2009   Last Updated: February 20, 2010

No matter how large the city you live in may be, we have all had moments where we feel like the world is incredibly small. You may come into contact with a friend of a friend, or run into someone you knew from high school despite the fact that you live thousands of miles away. The six degrees of separation theory suggests that any two people in the world will be connected by no more than six "steps" or five acquaintances.

Though the population of the world is constantly increasing, new methods are arising every day to shrink the gap. Media and technology are quickly making it possible to communicate with anyone from around the world.

While six degrees of separation began as a philosophical concept, encompassing such ideas as the small world theory, it has more recently become a player in popular culture and entertainment. From movies to music to social media, the six degrees of separation theory can be found everywhere you look.

Role in Movies and Television

One of the most popular ways to use the six degrees of separation theory is in the game "Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon." The idea is that any actor or actress can be linked to Kevin Bacon through the films that they have played in. In fact, the computer program "The Oracle of Bacon" was designed specifically to calculate the number of degrees apart two actors would be. Only a small percentage of working actors cannot be linked at all.

Movies and television shows both frequently feature the six degrees theory in their plotlines and titles. The hit series Lost showcases characters that all had some sort of connection to each other before the show began. Films like Crash regularly point to the fact that one person can affect the lives of everyone around them.

Social Networking and Six Degrees of Separation

Social networking has also begun to look at the six degrees of separation phenomenon. One of the earliest social networking websites was sixdegree.com, a site that used the concept completely. You would list your friends and family, who were invited to join as well. Bulletin boards and messaging took shape and influenced current social media. Sixdegrees.com was a way to network with people around the globe.

Though it is no longer active, other social media websites have taken over the role once filled by sixdegrees.com. Facebook has a prominent application to calculate the distance between people. There used to be a group which used the same concept. If you were a Facebook user while the group was active, you likely received regular invitations to join from some of its 5.4 million members.

Whether or not the "Human Web" theory is accurate, technology is definitely creating a smaller world. It is easier than ever to stay in contact with people from your past, even as they travel across the world.

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