Social Networks is a Leverage for Dunbar's Number

Recently, while watching an Instagram story I caught myself thinking I knew the author so well. It had nothing to do with reality— I had only met him once.

This is curious.

Humans cognitive capacity allows us to build and maintain close social connections in comparably small-sized social groups. This number is called Dunbar’s Number and is evaluated to be somewhere between 100 and 250.

Despite this, we can also form significantly larger social structures like cities and states, although the connections tend to be less intimate.

Here's where the internet and social networks come into play. They allow us to engage and build bonds with a larger number of people than our natural cognitive capacity would typically permit, while still fostering a sense of closeness in these relationships.

This is a significant feature which is often overlooked and overshadowed by silly shitposting.