Startup Path bids to be ‘anti-social network’

SAN FRANCISCO - A former Facebook executive launched a new social network Monday with a twist. Path.com limits the number of friends members can have at any one time to 50.

That may be a far cry from the hundreds and often thousands of friends that many Facebook members list as part of their social network. But it allows for more effective and trusted communications with people who are really one’s friends, rather than just Facebook acquaintances, according to Path CEO Dave Morin, formerly of Facebook.

The new site calls itself a “personal network” and arrived at the 50 friend limit after consultations with evolutionary anthropologists who have mapped out the brain’s limits to retaining close friendships with a large number of people.

“You usually have about five people whom you trust most, 20 that you hang out with all the time and about 50 or so who are your personal network,” Morin told the Los Angeles Times.

Path focuses on photo-sharing using mobile devices and is meant to be used alongside Facebook, rather than replacing it, Morin said.