1. A method performed by a computing device that includes a memory and one or more processors, the method comprising: maintaining in a first database a plurality of nodes of a social network or a social graph; maintaining in a second database a plurality of connections in the social network or the social graph, wherein each connection represents a connection between two or more nodes in the social network or the social graph; maintaining in a third database information about the plurality of nodes and the plurality of connections; providing an interface for users of the social network or the social graph to share and post content items in one or more communication channels of the social network or the social graph; receiving from the interface the content item comprising selected content and instructions for selecting a referenced node; determining whether any nodes of the social network or the social graph from the first database match the referenced node; providing the user with a list of referenced nodes that matched any of the nodes of the social network or social graph from the first database; receiving from the user a selected referenced node from the list, the selected referenced node being referenced in the interface; and presenting a link to the selected referenced node in the content item, wherein each of the first database, second database and third database are partial components of a universal database, wherein updates to any of the first database, second database and third database are synchronized in the universal database.