Or at least, that's the age when we tend to have the most people in our real-life social networks, according to research recently published in the journal Royal Society Open Science.
Researchers analyzed one full year's worth of cell phone call records for 3.2 million customers of a European telecom company.
They found that the average number of people a person calls (or is called by) in a given month peaks around age 25. After that, your number of regular social connections nosedives until age 45 or so. Take a look.
When viewed through their cell phone records, peoples lives tend to follow a particular narrative arc: a period of "social promiscuity" and exploding social contacts in the late teens and early twenties, followed by a rapid narrowing of the social sphere from the late twenties through early middle age as people marry, have kids, and otherwise settle down.
Probably because after 25 you begin realizing it's not about how many friends you have, but the ones that actually matter and are worth your time. Plus by that age most people move on with their lives and can no longer be as sociable with work, responsibilities, etc.
Probably because after 25 you begin realizing it's not about how many friends you have, but the ones that actually matter and are worth your time. Plus by that age most people move on with their lives and can no longer be as sociable with work, responsibilities, etc.
25 was an okay year. It has been downhill but that's because I'm meant to die at 40. Or sooner.
But who makes phone calls? The only calls I get are bill collectors. When I call people I pretend are friends they act like they don't know what to do and just mumble.
Well, some might peak at 18 others might peak at 32.
And does the number of connections really matter? The quality of the relationships is really relevant.
Well, some might peak at 18 others might peak at 32. And does the number of connections really matter? The quality of the relationships is really relevant.
I totally agree. But by definition, that's not what popularity is.
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