The Happiness Effect : How Social Media Is Driving a Generation to Appear Perfect at Any Cost

Sexting. Cyberbullying. Narcissism. Social media has become the dominant force in young people's lives, and each day seems to bring another shocking tale of private pictures getting into the wrong hands, or a lament that young people feel compelled to share their each and every thought with the entire world. Have smartphones and social media created a generation of self-obsessed egomaniacs? Absolutely not, Donna Freitas argues in this provocative book. And, she says, these alarmist fears are drawing attention away from the real issues that young adults are facing. Drawing on a large-scale survey and interviews with students on thirteen college campuses, Freitas finds that what young people are overwhelmingly concerned with--what they really want to talk about--is happiness. They face enormous pressure to look perfect online--not just happy, but blissful, ecstatic, and fabulously successful. Unable to achieve this impossible standard, they are anxious about letting the less-than-perfect parts of themselves become public. Far from wanting to share everything, they are brutally selective when it comes to curating their personal profiles, and worry obsessively that they might unwittingly post something that could come back to haunt them later in life. Through candid conversations with young people from diverse backgrounds, Freitas reveals how even the most well-adjusted individuals can be stricken by self-doubt when they compare their experiences with the vast collective utopia that they see online. And sometimes, as on anonymous platforms like Yik Yak, what they see instead is a depressing cesspool of racism and misogyny. Yet young people are also extremely attached to their smartphones and apps, which sometimes bring them great pleasure. It is very much a love-hate relationship. While much of the public's attention has been focused on headline-grabbing stories, the everyday struggles and joys of young people have remained under the radar. Freitas brings their feelings to the fore, in the words of young people themselves. The Happiness Effect is an eye-opening window into their first-hand experiences of social media and its impact on them. Sexting. Cyberbullying. Narcissism. Social Media Has Become The Dominant Force In Young People's Lives, And Each Day Seems To Bring Another Shocking Tale Of Private Pictures Getting Into The Wrong Hands, Or A Lament That Young People Feel Compelled To Share Their Each And Every Thought With The Entire World. Have Smartphones And Social Media Created A Generation Of Self-obsessed Egomaniacs? Absolutely Not, Donna Freitas Argues In This Book. And, She Says, These Alarmist Fears Are Drawing Attention Away From The Real Issues That Young Adults Are Facing. Drawing On A Large-scale Survey And Interviews With Students On Thirteen College Campuses, Freitas Finds That What Young People Are Overwhelmingly Concerned With -- What They Really Want To Talk About -- Is Happiness. They Face Enormous Pressure To Look Perfect Online --^ Not Just Happy, But Blissful, Ecstatic, And Fabulously Successful. Unable To Achieve This Impossible Standard, They Are Anxious About Letting The Less-than-perfect Parts Of Themselves Become Public. Far From Wanting To Share Everything, They Are Brutally Selective When It Comes To Curating Their Personal Profiles, And Worry Obsessively That They Might Unwittingly Post Something That Could Come Back To Haunt Them Later In Life. Through Candid Conversations With Young People From Diverse Backgrounds, Freitas Reveals How Even The Most Well-adjusted Individuals Can Be Stricken By Self-doubt When They Compare Their Experiences With The Vast Collective Utopia That They See Online. And Sometimes, As On Anonymous Platforms Like Yik Yak, What They See Instead Is A Depressing Cesspool Of Racism And Misogyny. Yet Young People Are Also Extremely Attached To Their Smartphones And Apps, Which Sometimes Bring Them Great Pleasure. It Is Very Much A Love-hate Relationship.^ While Much Of The Public's Attention Has Been Focused On Headline-grabbing Stories, The Everyday Struggles And Joys Of Young People Have Remained Under The Radar. Freitas Brings Their Feelings To The Fore, In The Words Of Young People Themselves. Introduction: Masters Of Happiness -- Is Everybody Hanging Out Without Me? Comparing Ourselves To Others And The Importance Of Being Liked -- The Professionalization Of Facebook: (and Why Everyone Should Keep Their Opinions To Themselves) -- My Name Is My Brand And My Brand Is Happiness! -- The Selfie Generation: Why Social Media Is More Of A Girl Thing -- Performing For God: Religion On (and Off) Social Media -- Virtual Playgrounds: The Rise Of Yik Yak, The Joys Of Snapchat, And Why Anonymity Is Just So Liberating -- An Acceptable Level Of Meanness: The Bullies, The Bullied, And The Problem Of Vulnerability -- So You Wanna Make That Facebook Official? -- The Ethics Of Sexting: Tinder, Dating, And The Promise Of Mutually Assured Destruction -- My Smartphone And Me: A Love-hate Relationship -- Taking A Timeout From The Timeline: Students Who Quit Social Media And Why. Donna Freitas ; Foreword By Christian Smith. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 301-331) And Index. Sexting. Cyberbullying. Narcissism. Social media has become the dominant force in young people's lives, and each day seems to bring another shocking tale of private pictures getting into the wrong hands, or a lament that young people feel compelled to share their each and every thought with the entire world. Have smartphones and social media created a generation of self-obsessed egomaniacs?Absolutely not, Donna Freitas argues in this provocative book. And, she says, these alarmist fears are drawing attention away from the real issues that young adults are facing.Drawing on a large-scale survey and interviews with students on thirteen college campuses, Freitas finds that what young people are overwhelmingly concerned with--what they really want to talk about--is happiness. They face enormous pressure to look perfect online--not just happy, but blissful, ecstatic, and fabulously successful. Unable to achieve this impossible standard, they are anxious about letting the less-than-perfect parts of themselves become public. Far from wanting to share everything, they are brutally selective when it comes to curating their personal profiles, and worry obsessively that they might unwittingly post something that could come back to haunt them later in life. Through candid conversations with young people from diverse backgrounds, Freitas reveals how even the most well-adjusted individuals can be stricken by self-doubt when they compare their experiences with the vast collective utopia that they see online. And sometimes, as on anonymous platforms like Yik Yak, what they see instead is a depressing cesspool of racism and misogyny. Yet young people are also extremely attached to their smartphones and apps, which sometimes bring them great pleasure. It is very much a love-hate relationship.While much of the public's attention has been focused on headline-grabbing stories, the everyday struggles and joys of young people have remained under the radar. Freitas brings their feelings to the fore, in the words of young people themselves. The Happiness Effect is an eye-opening window into their first-hand experiences of social media and its impact on them. Sexting. Cyberbullying. Narcissism. Social media has become the dominant force in young people's lives, and each day seems to bring another shocking tale of private pictures getting into the wrong hands, or a lament that young people feel compelled to share their each and every thought with the entire world. Have smartphones and social media created a generation of self-obsessed egomaniacs?Absolutely not, Donna Freitas argues in this provocative book. And, she says, these alarmist fears are drawing attention away from the real issues that young adults are facing. Drawing on a large-scale survey and interviews with students on thirteen college campuses, Freitas finds that what young people are overwhelmingly concerned with--what they really want to talk about--is happiness. They face enormous pressure to look perfect online--not just happy, but blissful, ecstatic, and fabulously successful. Unable to achieve this impossible standard, they are anxious about letting the less-than-perfect parts of themselves become public. Far from wanting to share everything, they are brutally selective when it comes to curating their personal profiles, and worry obsessively that they might unwittingly post something that could come back to haunt them later in life. Through candid conversations with young people from diverse backgrounds, Freitas reveals how even the most well-adjusted individuals can be stricken by self-doubt when they compare their experiences with the vast collective utopia that they see online. And sometimes, as on anonymous platforms like Yik Yak, what they see instead is a depressing cesspool of racism and misogyny. Yet young people are also extremely attached to their smartphones and apps, which sometimes bring them great pleasure. It is very much a love-hate relationship.While much of the public's attention has been focused on headline-grabbing stories, the everyday struggles and joys of young people have remained under the radar. Freitas brings their feelings to the fore, in the words of young people themselves. __The Happiness Effect__ is an eye-opening window into their first-hand experiences of social media and its impact on them. Sexting. Cyberbullying. Narcissism. People-and especially the media-are consumed by fears about the effect of social media on young people. We hear constantly about the dangers that lurk online, and about young people's seemingly pathological desire to share anything and everything about themselves with the entire world. Donna Freitas has traveled the country, talking to college students about what's really happening on social media. What she finds is that, while we focus on the problems that make headlines, we are ignoring the seemingly mundane, but much more widespread, problems that occur every day. Young people, she shows, feel enormous pressure to look happy all the time-and not just basically content, but blissful, ecstatic, inspiring and successful in their personal, professional, and academic lives-regardless of how they actually feel. Of course, these young adults are not that happy, at least not all of the time, and the constant exposure to the seemingly perfect lives of other people on social media only makes them feel worse. What's more, far from wanting to share everything about themselves, they are terrified of sharing something that will come back to haunt them later in life. The rise of social media has brought about a dramatic cultural shift: the need to curate a perfect identity online that often has little to do with reality. The consequences, Freitas shows, can be very real. Drawing on an online survey and in-person interviews with students from thirteen campuses around the U.S, Freitas offers a window into the social media generation and how they use Facebook, Snapchat, and Twitter, and other online platforms. She presents fascinating insights about how these people are consciously creating alternate identities for themselves, while also suffering from the belief that the other people they encounter online really are as perfect as their profiles appear. This is an eye-opening look at the real world of social media today