Something Strange Happens When You Trace How Connected We Are

Veritasium unpacks the “six degrees of separation” mystery by diving into Duncan Watts and Steven Strogatz’s small-world model. You’ll see how just a few random “shortcuts” and weak ties collapse the vast network of humanity into surprisingly few steps—powering everything from viral videos to lightning-fast disease spread.

Then it’s on to Albert-László Barabási’s hubs and preferential attachment, explaining why some people or sites attract way more connections. Mix in a dash of the Prisoner’s Dilemma, and you’ll discover how your own choices can ripple through these networks—and literally change how connected we all become.

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