On Facebook, the concept represents shared connections between two users who are not directly connected to each other. These shared connections are individuals who are friends with both of the aforementioned users. For instance, if User A and User B have five individuals in their respective friends lists who appear on both lists, those five individuals are considered shared connections between User A and User B.
The presence of these shared connections serves as a signal of familiarity or potential common ground. It can provide context regarding the relationship between two individuals and can influence trust and perception. Historically, this feature has been a core element of the platform’s social graph, aiding users in discovering new connections and reinforcing existing networks. It leverages the principle of social proximity, suggesting that individuals with overlapping networks are more likely to have shared interests or acquaintances.
