Graph based content browsing and discovery

Systems and methods for using graph databases to make digital content recommendations are described. A graph database may be associated with tagged digital content. The graph database may include a node for each content tag and edges identifying a relationship between nodes. When a user accesses or searches a digital content item, the graph database may be traversed to identify and present related content recommendations to the user based on the traversed nodes. Node graph traversal may initiate from a root node associated with a tag of content item being presented to a user. Nodes may be searched based on their proximity to the root node as determined by edge connections of the graph. Initially searched nodes may include nodes in the graph database directly connected by edges to the root node. Subsequently searched nodes may include nodes one edge connected removed from the root node, and so forth.