intermediacy

Intermediacy refers to the property or role of acting as an intermediary between parties within a social, economic, or information system. An intermediary is an actor that connects otherwise separated nodes, organizations, or data sources, facilitating exchange, communication, or coordination. Intermediacy arises from the structure of relationships and access to resources; in social networks, intermediaries often occupy positions that bridge gaps between groups.

In social networks, intermediaries may function as brokers or gatekeepers, helping to share diverse information, access resources, or coordinate activity. In markets, middlemen connect producers and consumers, provide services like financing and logistics, and help reduce transaction costs. In information systems and digital platforms, intermediaries include search engines, aggregators, and middleware that organize, curate, or route content and interactions.

Measuring intermediacy often involves centrality-based metrics such as betweenness centrality or brokerage scores, which indicate an actor's potential to connect disparate parts of a network. However, intermediacy is not determined solely by position; function depends on context, trust, content, and time. Intermediaries can enable diffusion and collaboration but may also constrain it through gatekeeping, bias, or dependency.

The study of intermediacy intersects sociology, information science, and economics, and informs questions about power, control of information, and the efficiency of exchange. As networks evolve, the role of intermediaries can change, creating opportunities for greater openness, platform design innovations, or policy interventions.