Learning Lessons from…social media

I’ve been flirting with the idea for years – threatening to go back and get my Ph.D. whenever work is not going my way or I feel disillusioned with my life. If I ever do stop talking about it and actually apply, I already know the topic for my dissertation. Most people are addicted to their mobile devices, constantly checking countless channels for endless updates. Why? As a society, does this make us happier?

I realize that the network effect provides a very compelling argument why individual users may experience satisfaction from a continuous connection to cellular technology and social media. If all your friends are texting, you need to text to communicate with them. But what if no one was texting? What if cell phones ceased to be pervade our communities and Facebook didn’t exist? Would we be a happier, more productive society if we still mailed letters and talked to our friends face to face?

These questions keep me wondering.