Something Strange Happens When You Trace How Connected We Are

Veritasium unpacks the “six degrees of separation” idea by diving into small-world networks, the magic of random shortcuts and why weak ties often pack the biggest punch. Along the way we meet Duncan Watts’ small-world model, Steve Strogatz’s witty insights, and Barabási’s hub theory—all showing how a handful of extra links can turn a sprawling web into a tightly knit community.

But it isn’t just theory. Simulations reveal how fast diseases can rip through our network, how hubs spring up via preferential attachment, and even how the Prisoner’s Dilemma plays out in a connected world. The takeaway? Whether you’re stopping viruses or sparking social change, understanding and tweaking your own connections can ripple across the entire network.

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