SixDegrees

Launched in May 1997, SixDegrees.com introduced the world to a new way of connecting online by mapping out the Web of Contacts. CEO Andrew Weinreich founded the New York-based company MacroView to build a platform where users could list friends, family, and acquaintances regardless of whether those people had joined the site yet. The service let members send messages and post bulletin board items to contacts within three degrees of separation, effectively visualizing how small the world really felt. This concept drew inspiration from the sociological theory that any two people on Earth are separated by no more than six intermediaries.

The site operated on a freemium model where basic access remained free while paid subscriptions cost between five and ten dollars monthly for features like unlimited messaging. Users navigated an early version of the social graph using HTML pages and CGI scripts hosted on servers in New York. Despite its technical simplicity compared to modern standards, the platform proved that digital identity and directed relationship maps were viable concepts before broadband internet became common.

Critical reception at the time was mixed. While tech historians now hail it as the OG of social networks, early users often found the interface dated and struggled to see the value compared to standard email or chat rooms. Slow dial-up speeds and unclear monetization strategies prevented viral growth. The company ceased operations in November 2001 after four years of trying to sustain profitability despite raising venture capital. [edit]