FOAF-Style Networks & the Professional Benefits

What professional benefits do you see by investing time into a FOAF-style network?

The six degrees of separation is something that always sparks an interest in both parties. The book describes this ‘six degrees of separation’ theory as not completely random. It begins with homophily (the grouping of like with like). In other words, the six degrees of separation is not a probability taken from the whole world. It is more distinct and selective. Where you work, live, travel to, attend school all are places where you are more likely to meet someone who knows one of your friends.

Friend of a Friend Networks can be extremely beneficial in social networking as long as professionally networking, only if implemented correctly. ‘’Tools that rely on FOAF networking work better when they augment human social choices rather than trying to replace them” (pg 220). One main benefit that can be gained by investing in FOAF-style network is if you know someone and their work ethics, work style, etc., their friends are more likely to have those characteristics as well. If you can trust someone, there is a higher chance that you can trust their friends as well.