On the Facebook platform, a shared connection indicates individuals who are connected to both the user viewing a profile and the profile’s owner. These connections reflect a common network. For example, if person A views person B’s profile and sees that they share a friend, person C, then person C is considered this shared connection.
The presence of these shared connections offers numerous advantages. It provides a degree of social validation, enabling users to assess the credibility and trustworthiness of individuals they may not know directly. Furthermore, it offers a pathway for establishing new relationships, suggesting potential common interests or shared social circles. Historically, this feature has been instrumental in expanding social networks and facilitating connections based on existing relationships.