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I feel like the subtle pseudo-gratification from this app is not going to make teens happier. Rather, they'll subconsciously realize that it's all a facade and

I feel like the subtle pseudo-gratification from this app is not going to make teens happier. Rather, they'll subconsciously realize that it's all a facade and it'll make them even less happy. We're going to keep creating this crap, I am sure, but lets just not label it with, "We're trying to make the world better". You're an app company, not a collective of teen health PHDs seeking to thwart teen's hormonal, depressive tenancies.

AndrewKemendo 9y ago
Rather, they'll subconsciously realize that it's all a facade and it'll make them even less happy. I'm listening to the great book iGen [1] and it lays out very clearly, with empirical, longitudinal, multifaceted research, that social media apps unquestionably make teens more anxious and less happy. [1]http://www.simonandschuster.com/books/iGen/Jean-M-Twenge/9781501151989 http://www.simonandschuster.com/books/iGen/Jean-M-Twenge/978...
joezydeco 9y ago
My son asked for approval on this app just this morning and I had red flags waving all around my head as I read the description. Learning that Facebook is now involved is just icing on the cake.
TheAdamAndChe 9y ago
That's possible, but it's tough to say what kind of effect this will have on them. Humans didn't evolve in an environment that had the internet, and social media increases exposure to both the good and bad sides of life more than ever before. The issue is that humans respond more to negative emotions than positive ones, driving depression and suicide rates up. I think the jury's still out on apps like this that try to foster a positive emotional environment while limiting the negative. If faux positivity was bad for us, then sites like 4chan would foster a good mental status. I think it should be obvious that it doesn't.
Spivak 9y ago
Less cynically, you might be right, but I hope it actually works. There's nothing wrong with trying to make something positive. There's http://www.rethinkwords.com/ http://www.rethinkwords.com/ which actually has data backing up that it works.
- whipoodle 9y ago
  I don’t think the point GP is making is cynical. I think what GP is talking about is cynical.
dogruck 9y ago
Yeah, this app strikes me as "who should be prom queen."
freyir 9y ago
"subtle pseudo-gratification from this app ... it's all a facade and it'll make them even less happy." So the essence of Facebook? Seems like a perfect fit.
freshhawk 9y ago
They also know that giving out only positive badges to a social circle just makes the negative ones implicit (Everyone gets the X kind but me, message received and I know everyone else noticed as well) and is only marginally more positive than allowing anything at all. It's just good marketing to frame it this way. They saw what happened to Peeple.

AndrewKemendo 9y ago

Rather, they'll subconsciously realize that it's all a facade and it'll make them even less happy. I'm listening to the great book iGen [1] and it lays out very clearly, with empirical, longitudinal, multifaceted research, that social media apps unquestionably make teens more anxious and less happy. [1]http://www.simonandschuster.com/books/iGen/Jean-M-Twenge/9781501151989 http://www.simonandschuster.com/books/iGen/Jean-M-Twenge/978...

joezydeco 9y ago

My son asked for approval on this app just this morning and I had red flags waving all around my head as I read the description. Learning that Facebook is now involved is just icing on the cake.

TheAdamAndChe 9y ago

That's possible, but it's tough to say what kind of effect this will have on them. Humans didn't evolve in an environment that had the internet, and social media increases exposure to both the good and bad sides of life more than ever before. The issue is that humans respond more to negative emotions than positive ones, driving depression and suicide rates up. I think the jury's still out on apps like this that try to foster a positive emotional environment while limiting the negative. If faux positivity was bad for us, then sites like 4chan would foster a good mental status. I think it should be obvious that it doesn't.

Spivak 9y ago

Less cynically, you might be right, but I hope it actually works. There's nothing wrong with trying to make something positive. There's http://www.rethinkwords.com/ http://www.rethinkwords.com/ which actually has data backing up that it works.

whipoodle 9y ago
I don’t think the point GP is making is cynical. I think what GP is talking about is cynical.

dogruck 9y ago

Yeah, this app strikes me as "who should be prom queen."

freyir 9y ago

"subtle pseudo-gratification from this app ... it's all a facade and it'll make them even less happy." So the essence of Facebook? Seems like a perfect fit.

freshhawk 9y ago

They also know that giving out only positive badges to a social circle just makes the negative ones implicit (Everyone gets the X kind but me, message received and I know everyone else noticed as well) and is only marginally more positive than allowing anything at all. It's just good marketing to frame it this way. They saw what happened to Peeple.