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    The Forgotten Patent That Invented Social Networking

    10 min
    |
    6 sources
    |
    12 nov. 2025
    TechnologyHistoryEntrepreneurship

    Before Facebook, before MySpace, Andrew Weinreich patented the entire concept of social networking in 1997 with SixDegrees.com. Discover how this visionary's $700K patent became the foundation for LinkedIn, Facebook, and every social platform we use today.

    The Forgotten Patent That Invented Social Networking

    Meilleure citation de The Forgotten Patent That Invented Social Networking

    “

    Sometimes being first means creating the infrastructure for others to build upon. The Six Degrees patent wasn't just a legal document—it was a blueprint for how human relationships could be digitized and scaled.

    ”

    Cette leçon audio a été créée par un membre de la communauté BeFreed

    Question posée

    The story behind the Six Degrees patent and how it shaped the origin of social networking and inspired platforms like LinkedIn.

    Voix des présentateurs
    Lenaplay
    Eliplay
    Sources de connaissances
    Six Degrees patent
    link
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Six_Degrees_patent
    SixDegrees.com - Wikipedia
    link
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SixDegrees.com
    The father of social networking - with Andrew Weinreich
    link
    https://mixergy.com/interviews/andrew-weinreich-sixdegrees/
    How and Why Linkedin Learned to Love Patents
    link
    https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3091285
    Square and the Tower
    Cold Start Problem

    Cree par des anciens de Columbia University a San Francisco

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    "Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

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    "Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

    @Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
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    254
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    17

    "Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

    @djmikemoore
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    "BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

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    "Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

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    Resumes de livres en vedette
    Crucial ConversationsThe Perfect MarriageInto the WildNever Split the DifferenceAttachedGood to GreatSay Nothing
    Categories tendance
    Self HelpCommunication SkillRelationshipMindfulnessPhilosophyInspirationProductivity
    Listes de lecture de celebrites
    Elon MuskCharlie KirkBill GatesSteve JobsAndrew HubermanJoe RoganJordan Peterson
    Collection primee
    Pulitzer PrizeNational Book AwardGoodreads Choice AwardsNobel Prize in LiteratureNew York TimesCaldecott MedalNebula Award
    Sujets en vedette
    ManagementAmerican HistoryWarTradingStoicismAnxietySex
    Meilleurs livres par annee
    2025 Best Non Fiction Books2024 Best Non Fiction Books2023 Best Non Fiction Books
    Outils d'apprentissage
    Knowledge VisualizerAI Podcast Generator
    Auteurs en vedette
    Chimamanda Ngozi AdichieGeorge OrwellO. J. SimpsonBarbara O'NeillWinston ChurchillCharlie Kirk
    BeFreed vs autres applications
    BeFreed vs. Other Book Summary AppsBeFreed vs. ElevenReaderBeFreed vs. ReadwiseBeFreed vs. Anki
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    © 2026 BeFreed
    Conditions d'utilisationPolitique de confidentialite

    Points clés

    1

    Opening & Welcome

    0:00

    Lena: Hey everyone, welcome to this personalized podcast from BeFreed-I'm Lena, and today Eli and I are diving into one of the most fascinating origin stories in tech history.

    0:11

    Eli: That's right, Lena! I'm absolutely thrilled to explore this with you because we're talking about the true genesis of social networking-not Facebook, not MySpace, but something that came years before and literally patented the entire concept.

    0:24

    Lena: Exactly! We're unraveling the story behind the Six Degrees patent and how this forgotten pioneer shaped everything from LinkedIn to the social platforms we use today. Ready to discover how one visionary saw the networked future before anyone else?

    2

    Topic Introduction & Source Material Setup

    3

    The Visionary's Dilemma

    4

    The Infrastructure Challenge and Timing

    5

    The Network Effect Revolution

    6

    Lessons for Today's Entrepreneurs

    7

    The Continuing Evolution

    8

    Wrap-up & Closing Reflection

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