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LinkedIn’s 1st-, 2nd-, and 3rd-degree labels show network distance—not trust, status, or professional quality. A 1st-degree member is directly connected to you, a 2nd-degree member is connected to one of your direct connections, and a 3rd-degree member is connected to one of your 2nd-degree connections. The label can influence which contact options LinkedIn displays, but it does not tell you how well you know the person.
LinkedIn connection degrees at a glance
| Label | What it means | Typical next step |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | You and the member have an accepted connection invitation. | Send a normal LinkedIn message. |
| 2nd | The member is directly connected to at least one of your 1st-degree connections. | Use Connect when available, request an introduction, or follow first. |
| 3rd | The member is connected to one of your 2nd-degree connections. | Look for Connect; otherwise consider an introduction, follow, or InMail if offered. |
These definitions come from LinkedIn’s explanation of network and connection degrees. The same person can be 1st degree for one LinkedIn member and 3rd degree—or out of network—for another.
What 1st degree means
A 1st-degree connection is someone whose invitation you accepted, or who accepted yours. The relationship does not exist merely because one of you follows the other. Once connected, you can generally open the profile and send a regular LinkedIn message.
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems“1st degree” also does not mean close friend. People often accept invitations from former colleagues, recruiters, clients, classmates, event contacts, or people they have never met. It describes an accepted LinkedIn relationship, not personal familiarity.
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What 2nd degree means
A 2nd-degree member is directly connected to at least one of your 1st-degree connections. For example:
- You are connected to Alex.
- Alex is connected to Jordan.
- You and Jordan are not connected.
Jordan is therefore your 2nd-degree connection. There may be several mutual connections; LinkedIn may show only some of them, depending on privacy settings and the current interface. “2nd” does not mean the person is connected to every one of your contacts.
What 3rd degree means
A 3rd-degree member is connected to one of your 2nd-degree connections. A simplified path looks like this:
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You → Alex (1st) → Jordan (2nd) → Casey (3rd)
Real networks can contain multiple paths, and privacy settings may hide some mutual connections. A 3rd-degree label therefore does not prove that Casey is an unknown or suspicious person; it only describes the shortest network relationship LinkedIn is showing you.
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What the degree changes—and what it does not
LinkedIn says degree affects how members can interact. Depending on the profile, account, location, privacy settings, subscription, and current LinkedIn interface, it can affect:
- whether Connect appears;
- whether ordinary messaging is available;
- whether InMail or another contact route is offered;
- which mutual connections or network features you can see.
The degree does not automatically determine:
- professional relevance, seniority, or credibility;
- whether someone is a legitimate recruiter or prospect;
- whether they follow you, viewed your profile, or will see a post;
- how likely they are to reply;
- their ranking in search results.
LinkedIn displays degree information in profiles and search results, but its official documentation does not say that degree alone controls search ranking. Treat claims that “LinkedIn always ranks 1st-degree results first” as unverified.
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1st degree
The normal route is Message. LinkedIn’s help documentation identifies messaging as the standard way to contact a 1st-degree connection, although unusual account or safety restrictions can affect any platform feature.
2nd degree
Open the profile and select Connect if LinkedIn offers it. Add a short, relevant note, then message the person normally after they accept. Other possibilities include a mutual introduction, a shared-group route, or InMail when that option appears. You cannot assume every 2nd-degree profile has identical buttons.
3rd degree
Check for Connect first. If it is unavailable, use a credible mutual introduction, follow the person, or use InMail if LinkedIn makes it available to your account and the recipient. Older advice about a universal full-name or abbreviated-name rule for 3rd-degree invitations is dated; do not rely on it as a current requirement.
Connect versus Follow
Connect is a two-way relationship: if the invitation is accepted, the person becomes 1st degree. Follow is one-way: you see the person’s eligible public updates without becoming connected. Following does not unlock ordinary connection messaging and does not turn someone into a 1st-degree connection. You may be connected to someone while choosing to unfollow their posts in your feed.
Choose Connect when you have a genuine reason to establish a two-way professional relationship. Choose Follow when you mainly want to learn from someone’s public content and do not yet have a natural reason to request a connection.
Other labels you may see
Not every LinkedIn member is 1st, 2nd, or 3rd degree. LinkedIn may show:
- Follower: someone who follows your public updates, listed separately from connection degrees.
- Group member: someone who shares a LinkedIn Group with you. Group membership does not automatically create a connection or guarantee free messaging.
- LinkedIn Member (Out of Network): a person who does not fit those listed network categories. Profile visibility may be more limited, and InMail may appear if the profile permits it.
How to approach a 2nd- or 3rd-degree contact
- Check relevance. Confirm the person works in a field, company, role, event, or project genuinely related to your reason for contacting them.
- Look for a real bridge. A mutual connection, shared employer, professional association, or event can provide context. A 2nd-degree label does not prove that the mutual contact knows you well enough to recommend you.
- Choose the least intrusive route. Ask for an introduction, send a personalized connection request, follow first, or use InMail only when it is available and justified.
- Explain why you are reaching out. Keep the note specific and brief.
Example: “Hi Taylor—your work in supply-chain analytics caught my attention. We both work with manufacturing teams, and I’d be glad to connect.”
A generic request such as “I want to grow my network. Please accept” gives the recipient no reason to respond. Never imply that a mutual contact endorsed you unless that person agreed to an introduction.
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A 3rd-degree profile may show Connect for one user but not another. Possible reasons include the member’s privacy settings, invitation limits, account restrictions, the product or screen you are using, LinkedIn’s changing interface, or the profile being outside your practical network. Do not infer one cause without seeing the actual account and screen.
Paid plans do not change what the labels mean. Premium products can provide additional features, while Sales Navigator is designed for sustained prospecting; neither bypasses privacy settings or guarantees acceptance and replies. Check LinkedIn’s Premium page and official Sales Navigator comparison for current, account-specific availability and pricing.
Can a degree change?
Yes. Degrees are relative to your current network. If a 2nd-degree member accepts your invitation, that person becomes 1st degree. Other people in their network may appear closer to you. Removing a connection can likewise make displayed relationships more distant. The same profile can therefore change from 3rd to 2nd, or from 2nd to 1st, without the person changing jobs or accounts.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Frequently asked questions
Is LinkedIn Premium required to contact a 2nd- or 3rd-degree member?
No universal rule requires Premium. The available route may be Connect, an introduction, a shared-group option, or InMail, depending on the profile and account. Premium does not guarantee access or a response.
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Sometimes. Open the profile and use Connect if it appears. If it does not, consider following, requesting an introduction, or using InMail when offered.
Does 3rd degree mean the person is a stranger?
No. It means the person is connected to one of your 2nd-degree connections. It says nothing about trust, relevance, or whether you have met offline.
Does following make someone a connection?
No. Following is one-way. Only an accepted invitation creates a 1st-degree connection.
Why does one profile show Follow instead of Connect?
The member may prefer followers, have settings that limit invitations, or be displayed in an interface where Connect is not currently offered. You can follow public updates, but that does not create a direct connection.
Should I ask a mutual connection for an introduction?
Yes, when the mutual contact genuinely knows both parties and the request has a clear purpose. Ask permission first rather than name-dropping someone who has not agreed to introduce you.
What does “out of network” mean?
It means LinkedIn does not classify the member as your 1st-, 2nd-, or 3rd-degree connection, follower, or fellow Group member in that context. Visibility and contact options may be more limited.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a 2nd-degree connection message me first?
They may have a permitted messaging route, such as an invitation, shared-group option, or InMail when available. The degree label alone does not guarantee a message channel.
Does LinkedIn show every mutual connection?
No. Privacy settings and the current interface can limit which mutual connections or paths are visible.
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The Bottom Line
1st means directly connected, 2nd means connected to one of your direct connections, and 3rd means connected to one of your 2nd-degree connections. Use the label to choose a practical contact route—not to judge the person. Relevance, context, and the controls LinkedIn actually displays matter more than the number.
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