Final answer:
Dunbar's number refers to the maximum number of meaningful relationships one can maintain, commonly estimated at 150. The information provided describes a study on the number of online friends teens report having, with a significant percentage indicating more than 500 social media friends.
Step-by-step explanation:
The concept that most people can maintain no more than a specific number of meaningful relationships, both online and offline, is known as “Dunbar's number.” Although Dunbar's number is often cited as 150, this question seems to be related to a larger discussion about online friendships and social media habits among teenagers. Based on the information provided, a study found that a significant percentage of teens report having more than 500 friends on a social media site. However, it is important to note that the number of online contacts does not directly correlate to meaningful relationships as conceptualized by Dunbar's number.
Let's explore the research findings. A 90 percent confidence interval was calculated using the plus-four method based on a sample where 588 teens responded, with 159 stating they have more than 500 friends on social media. This statistical result is meant to estimate the true proportion of teens who would report having a large number of online friends.