Do Social Media Platforms Make People Happy?

Cass R. Sunstein, J.D.
(Robert Walmsley University)

People buy some goods that they do not enjoy and wish did not exist: cigarettes, alcohol, expensive clothing, tattoos, access to social media platforms. People might even be willing to pay a great deal for such goods, whether the currency involves time,
commitment, or money. One reason involves signaling to others; so long as the good exists, nonconsumption might give an unwanted signal to friends or colleagues. 

Collective action, private or public, is necessary to reduce use of people consume but wish did not exist. Nudges, designed to discourage use of those goods, might be justified in this way. Restrictions on use of social media, especially by young people might be similarly justified.