Metcalfe's law
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network value grows with the square of the number of users.
In context
This law belongs with Murphy's Laws, where small assumptions, timing, and system complexity tend to turn into memorable failures.
Editorial note
The classic formulation says a communications network becomes more valuable as more participants can connect, though real networks rarely follow a perfect square law.
Practical example: A team chat becomes more useful when all collaborating teams can join rather than only one department.
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