What Does 1st, 2nd, 3rd Mean on LinkedIn? Degrees Explained
Understand LinkedIn connection degrees: what 1st, 2nd, and 3rd mean, how they affect messaging, and strategies for expanding your professional network.
LinkedIn connection degrees indicate how closely you're connected to another member. A 1st-degree connection means you're directly connected. 2nd-degree means you share a mutual connection. 3rd-degree means you're connected through two people in between.
Understanding these degrees helps you navigate LinkedIn's messaging features and expand your professional network strategically.
Key Takeaways
- 1st-degree connections: Direct connections you can message freely
- 2nd-degree connections: Friends of your connections—high-value networking targets
- 3rd-degree connections: Connected through two people—require InMail or connection requests
- Connection degree affects visibility: 1st-degree connections see your full profile
- 2nd-degree connections offer 5x more networking opportunities than focusing only on 1st-degree
What Are LinkedIn Connection Degrees?
According to LinkedIn's official help documentation, your network consists of connections at different degrees of separation.
1st-Degree Connections
1st-degree connections are people you're directly connected to on LinkedIn. You'll see a "1st" icon next to their name.
How you become 1st-degree connected:
- You sent them a connection request and they accepted
- They sent you a connection request and you accepted
What 1st-degree means:
- You can message them directly (free)
- You can see their full profile information
- Their posts may appear in your feed
- You can see their contact info (if they've shared it)
- They appear in your "Connections" list
2nd-Degree Connections
2nd-degree connections are people connected to your 1st-degree connections. You'll see a "2nd" icon next to their name.
Example: You're connected to Sarah. Sarah is connected to John. John is your 2nd-degree connection.
What 2nd-degree means:
- You share at least one mutual connection
- You can see who your mutual connections are
- You can send a connection request
- Direct messaging requires InMail credits (Premium feature)
- Their profile is partially visible
3rd-Degree Connections
3rd-degree connections are connected to your 2nd-degree connections. You'll see a "3rd" icon next to their name.
Example: You → Sarah → John → Michael. Michael is your 3rd-degree connection.
What 3rd-degree means:
- Connected through two people between you
- Connection path is: You → 1st → 2nd → 3rd
- Can send connection requests or InMail
- More limited profile visibility
- May see their name or just "LinkedIn Member"
3rd+ and Out-of-Network
"3rd+" indicates someone more than three degrees away from you. "LinkedIn Member" appears when someone is so far from your network that LinkedIn doesn't show their name in certain contexts.
How Connection Degrees Affect Your LinkedIn Experience
Messaging Capabilities
| Connection Degree | Messaging Options |
|---|---|
| 1st-degree | Free direct messaging |
| 2nd-degree | InMail (requires Premium) or connection request with note |
| 3rd-degree | InMail (requires Premium) or connection request |
| 3rd+ | InMail only (may be very limited) |
Profile Visibility
Your connection degree determines what you can see on someone's profile:
1st-degree access:
- Full profile information
- Contact info (email, phone if shared)
- All posts and activity
- Mutual connections
- Skills and endorsements
2nd/3rd-degree access:
- Basic profile information
- Mutual connections shown
- Limited activity visibility
- May not see contact info
Search Results
Connection degree affects how people appear in search:
- 1st-degree connections rank higher in results
- 2nd-degree shows "mutual connection" context
- 3rd-degree may show limited information
- Some members appear as "LinkedIn Member" if very distant
Why 2nd-Degree Connections Matter Most
According to networking research, professionals who actively leverage 2nd-degree connections see 5x more networking opportunities than those focusing only on direct connections.
The Power of Warm Introductions
2nd-degree connections offer:
- Built-in referral: Ask your mutual connection for an introduction
- Context for outreach: "I see we're both connected to Sarah..."
- Higher acceptance rates: Mutual connections increase trust
- Conversation starters: Discuss shared professional relationships
Strategic 2nd-Degree Outreach
- Identify valuable 2nd-degree connections in your target industry
- Find the mutual connection linking you
- Ask for an introduction or mention the mutual connection
- Send a personalized connection request
How to See Your Connection Degree
On Profile Pages
The degree indicator appears next to someone's name:
- "1st" = Direct connection
- "2nd" = Connected through one person
- "3rd" = Connected through two people
- "3rd+" = More than three degrees away
In Search Results
When searching, connection degree displays under each result, helping you prioritize outreach to closer connections.
Viewing Mutual Connections
For 2nd and 3rd-degree connections:
- Visit their profile
- Look for "X mutual connections"
- Click to see who you have in common
Expanding Your LinkedIn Network
Growing 1st-Degree Connections
- Connect with colleagues (current and former)
- Add classmates and alumni
- Connect after meetings and events
- Accept relevant incoming requests
Converting 2nd-Degree to 1st-Degree
Best practices for connection requests:
- Personalize the message (300 character limit)
- Reference the mutual connection: "I see we're both connected to [Name]..."
- Explain why you want to connect: Common interests, industry, goals
- Don't pitch immediately: Build relationship first
Example connection request:
Hi [Name], I noticed we're both connected to Sarah Chen. I saw your post about B2B marketing trends and found your insights valuable. Would love to connect and follow your content.
When to Use InMail for 3rd-Degree
InMail credits are valuable. Use them for:
- Time-sensitive opportunities
- C-suite executives unlikely to accept connection requests
- Job applications to hiring managers
- High-priority business development
Learn more in our LinkedIn InMail guide.
Connection Degree Strategy Tips
Build Strategic Bridges
Connect with people who have large, relevant networks. Their connections become your 2nd-degree connections, dramatically expanding your reach.
Quality Over Quantity
According to LinkedIn's guidelines, focus on meaningful connections over maximizing numbers. Strong 1st-degree relationships create more valuable 2nd-degree opportunities.
Engage Before Connecting
Comment on someone's posts before sending a connection request. This:
- Gets your name recognized
- Shows genuine interest
- Increases acceptance rates
- Starts the relationship before connecting
Leverage Groups and Events
LinkedIn Group members and event attendees can message each other directly, bypassing connection degree limitations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 1st mean on LinkedIn?
1st on LinkedIn means you're directly connected to that person. You've either accepted their connection request or they've accepted yours. 1st-degree connections can message each other freely, see each other's full profiles, and appear in each other's network.
What does 2nd mean on LinkedIn?
2nd on LinkedIn means you share a mutual connection with that person but aren't directly connected. They're connected to someone you know. You can send connection requests or use InMail to message 2nd-degree connections. They represent high-value networking opportunities.
What does 3rd+ mean on LinkedIn?
3rd+ on LinkedIn indicates someone is more than three degrees away from your network. The connection path would be: You → Your connection → Their connection → Another person → The 3rd+ member. These people are far from your network and may appear with limited profile information.
Can I message 2nd-degree connections on LinkedIn?
Without LinkedIn Premium, you cannot directly message 2nd-degree connections. You can send a connection request with a 300-character note. With Premium, you can use InMail credits to message them directly. Another option is asking your mutual connection for an introduction.
How do I see mutual connections on LinkedIn?
Visit the person's profile and look for "X mutual connections" below their headline. Click this to see the list of people you both know. This information helps you identify potential introduction paths and personalize your outreach by referencing shared professional relationships.
Why does LinkedIn show "LinkedIn Member" instead of a name?
LinkedIn shows "LinkedIn Member" when someone is too far from your network for the platform to display their information, or when they've adjusted privacy settings. This typically happens with people who are 3rd+ degree connections or completely outside your network.
Build an Inbound Network Strategy
Understanding connection degrees helps you network strategically. But the most effective approach isn't chasing connections—it's positioning yourself so valuable connections come to you.
ConnectSafely.ai helps you build LinkedIn authority that attracts 2nd and 3rd-degree connections organically. Instead of cold outreach, qualified prospects discover your expertise and reach out to you.
Ready to attract valuable connections instead of chasing them? Start your free ConnectSafely.ai trial and build inbound authority that grows your network automatically.
