

What are the Signs?
Some of you may argue that Dunbar’s research focused on non-human primates, but what about people? Remember that the number is just an average and it can be in between 100 to 250 people. But is there really such a thing as the right or ideal number of friends and family you can keep close? Professor Dunbar thinks so and even claims that it is the optimal number to which connections can be maintained for a community to thrive effectively. This number also extends to other circles where people get to socialize. In groups like hunter-gatherer societies, the average number of people medieval villages, and in 18th-century England, you’ll be surprised to find that each group of people are limited to more or less 150. The number is even consistent with the average size of parishes in Hutterites and the Amish communities. Breaking down his magic number, there are different layers of closeness and intimacy. From the given total, 50 of them are delegated as acquaintances or friends that are kept at a certain distance. Another 15 are close friend, those we turn to for emotional support and another 4 or 5 friends that we have intense intimate relationships with. Romantic partners, on the other hand, are equivalent to two close friends. The number was inspired by Bill Gore of Gore-Tex fame. What most people do not know is that Gore’s company, W.L. Gore & Associates, is generating yearly revenues of USD 3 billion with a head count of 9,500 employees. Where does 150 come in here, you ask? In each Gore-Tex factory, the number of employees working do not exceed this figure. Gore believes that everyone knowing everyone makes a sense of connection between people. This, in turn, enables people to know who does what, this subsequently eliminates the need for a hierarchy while increasing each person’s commitment to the organization’s goals. Chris Cox, Facebook’s Chief Product Officer, agrees and shares from experience that a company’s structure and communications needs to at least be reconsidered after going beyond this number.Does This Apply to Modern Online Connections?

How Similar Can it Be with Personal Friendships and Connections?
In any online community or platform, we could be practically anyone we wish to be, changing every bit of information and detail we otherwise legally have. But even this concept of online anonymity seems to show little-to-no difference from the actual offline world. Dunbar compares these anonymous online interactions to devout Catholics’ use of confessionals. It’s not considered a close relationship, it does, however recognize the benefits of confidentiality among virtual strangers. Likewise, Dunbar further deadpans the intimacy of online friendships because of the simple fact that crying to a virtual shoulder is next to impossible. Sharing stories or problems to people is not akin to a lighthouse blinking out in the open, hoping someone out there will take notice. With this perspective, the virtual, distanced nature of online connectivity means that they cannot replace the physical, real-time, and meaningful relationships of the real world. Personal interactions, with all the non-verbal gestures and actions are so critical to communication and should remain paramount as basis of relationships. Dunbar’s research however reflects a difference among generations in this regard. People who are 18–24 years old significantly have more online presence and activity than their 55 and above counterparts. This is caused by the technologies of each segment’s time. The young people who have never known life without the internet may prefer less physical contact and more online interaction, the more tenured ones, on the other hand, would prefer personal connections because of factors such as preference to go out more and risks of too much exposure to mobile screens.Is It Really that Constrained?
