Mya Hankes
Section C-1
Professor Brod
August 30th 2020
Konnikova Response
The Dunbar number is known as a series of numbers that associate with the “groups” of people in your life. The most common number range is 150 of your “acquaintances” down to your 5 closest friends or “support system’. The “rule of 3” associates with how many people your inner group increases or decreases by as you create more relationships. Dunbar was able to discover these number rations by comparing the neuroscience of humans to other primates. The issue that arises with our social groups is the use of technology and social networking. Social media has caused the Dunbar number, rule of three, and face-to-face communication to lose relevance to our society due to the amount of possible online interaction. Konnikova writes that the less in- person social and physical communication a person has, the less likely they are to have developed social skills and ability to follow the Dunbar number. As the rise of online communication and social media continues, the closeness and reality of human relationships suffers.
The qualities behind what makes a friendship work are both complex and simple. The simple things that you look for in a friend is someone who is supportive, shares common interest, and is trustworthy. Ideally, you would want to be able to confide in a friend with struggles but also be able to make memories with them. What makes a friendship so complex (especially in today’s society) is the presence of social media. You may say someone is considered a close friend, but what makes it more “official” in today’s society is the photographs, statuses, and posts shared together on social media. More often than not people associate others with each other based off of what is posted and shared online. This sometimes can cause a divide between relationships, how do you know if they are a true friend if you do not have shared posts together? Unfortunately, this is the reality of relationships to most generations today.
The use of social media in relation to UNE has greatly impacted my acclamation to campus. Before arriving, I used social media to create connections with other students coming to compass and was able to find my own roommate. Looking at others pictures and reading their information aids in getting to know fellow students and get a feel for the campus community. Academically, the use of social media and other platforms allows students to feel connected with the community for help in course load and getting involved. Without the use of social media on campus, students would not be able to communicate as well before arriving and not have the same support system on campus.
The use of social media is also a negative when it comes to life on campus because of its prevention of real social interaction. Since coming to campus, I’ve found that there were students I connected with online but in person we have had no real connection. The difference between being able to connect online and in person is too great. It is possible that most students find it easier to connect online and have conversations with other students over forms of social media. I feel like looking at others’ social media can create anxiety for students arriving on campus that feel as if they don’t have students that look the same as them. This can create a negative mindset towards students and buffer the ability to make healthy relationships.
