The Dunbar number is about individual connections. The exponential scaling comes from the number of possible subgroups. I might have 5 close friends but each pa

The Dunbar number is about individual connections. The exponential scaling comes from the number of possible subgroups. I might have 5 close friends but each pair of friends has a different interest. From 5 friends, we have 15 interests. With 10 friends, we can have 90 interests.