Since 2008, more than 260 million Facebook users worldwide listed themselves as being “in a relationship” with another person on Facebook. Of these, 65% noted just one person they were in a relationship with. But it is those who dated more than one person who help connect the relationship graph.

When we connect people through their relationship statuses, we find 85 million individuals (32%) are in one giant component, connecting people across the globe. This means that by following the relationship ties from any one person within the component you can reach any other person through relationship ties. For example, if Amy dated Bob who dated Cathy who dated David, then Amy and David are connected.