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Happiness Digital Technology and Social Networks

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Consumer Happiness: Multiple Perspectives

Part of the book series: Studies in Rhythm Engineering ((SRE))

Abstract

This chapter focuses on the analysis of the impact of new technologies on happiness. Traditionally, studies on the impact of technology on subjective well-being have been carried out by philosophers or thinkers and have generally been relatively negative. In this chapter, a pragmatic approach is adopted. It starts from accepting that technology offers tools that can have positive or negative effects on the happiness of individuals, depending largely on how the technology is used. As regards the new digital technology, the analysis takes as a central point the study of the impact on happiness of social networks and the Internet. In this sense, it is considered that although social networks can have a negative impact on the subjective well-being of individuals, in general their impact is positive due in large part to the possibilities that connectivity opens up. It is also argued that precisely the positive effect of social networks on happiness is one of the factors that contribute to explaining the impressive success of social networks. Social networks offer users something they strongly want, communicate and stay in touch with family and friends. This work closes with the analysis of the impact of a specific social network, Facebook, on the subjective well-being of individuals.

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  1. UNED, Madrid, Spain

    Francisco Mochón

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  1. Francisco Mochón
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  1. Indian Institute of Management Ranchi, Ranchi, Jharkhand, India

    Tanusree Dutta

  2. Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur, West Bengal, India

    Manas Kumar Mandal

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Mochón, F. (2021). Happiness Digital Technology and Social Networks. In: Dutta, T., Mandal, M.K. (eds) Consumer Happiness: Multiple Perspectives. Studies in Rhythm Engineering. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-33-6374-8_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-33-6374-8_2

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