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This seems obvious...as the author says, face-to-face interaction leads to happier (people) teens (bar sleep). People with friends seem to spend more time face-

by sargun 8y ago

This seems obvious...as the author says, face-to-face interaction leads to happier (people) teens (bar sleep). People with friends seem to spend more time face-to-face with other people. This seems like a no-brainer.

dmreedy 8y ago
Sometimes the results of science map to our intuition. Sometimes they don't. Both outcomes are interesting, and neither should be assumed.
VLM 8y ago
The simple and traditional "introversion = evil extroversion = good" meme is tempting, but alternative explanations are possible. For the majority, which are introverted, possibly "everything must be social on smartphones" combined with non-face-to-face interaction means phone-time means they never get that alone time to recharge and feel better, can never quite get away from the dreaded notification pull-down drawer. Imagine a world where cultural pressure combined with advanced social media technology makes meditation and introspection and privacy and serenity impossible; for some people that would be heaven, others, hell, regardless which, its certainly what we have now. Another interesting theory, possibly even accurate: kid-only interaction is inherently bad, in the "Lord of the Flies" sense. Adult interaction might be good, Cross-age tribal interaction might be good. Possibly all kid-only interaction is bad and has always been bad; its certainly very artificial and non-evolutionary and pre-social media there have been critiques of the culture produced by kids interacting solely with other kids. If that theory is correct, then a hand-held device that pumps more of something that can only be poisonous would likely make most kids more unhappy on average. If a culture of "Lord of the Flies" sucked, then "Lord of the Flies, now as a social phone app" is merely going to suck more.
- mirimir 8y ago
  When I was a kid, I generally avoided other kids. With a few exceptions. Because, as you say, "Lord of the Flies" bullshit. And damn, I like that: social media = "Lord of the Flies" :)

by sargun 8y ago

dmreedy 8y ago

Sometimes the results of science map to our intuition. Sometimes they don't. Both outcomes are interesting, and neither should be assumed.

VLM 8y ago

The simple and traditional "introversion = evil extroversion = good" meme is tempting, but alternative explanations are possible. For the majority, which are introverted, possibly "everything must be social on smartphones" combined with non-face-to-face interaction means phone-time means they never get that alone time to recharge and feel better, can never quite get away from the dreaded notification pull-down drawer. Imagine a world where cultural pressure combined with advanced social media technology makes meditation and introspection and privacy and serenity impossible; for some people that would be heaven, others, hell, regardless which, its certainly what we have now. Another interesting theory, possibly even accurate: kid-only interaction is inherently bad, in the "Lord of the Flies" sense. Adult interaction might be good, Cross-age tribal interaction might be good. Possibly all kid-only interaction is bad and has always been bad; its certainly very artificial and non-evolutionary and pre-social media there have been critiques of the culture produced by kids interacting solely with other kids. If that theory is correct, then a hand-held device that pumps more of something that can only be poisonous would likely make most kids more unhappy on average. If a culture of "Lord of the Flies" sucked, then "Lord of the Flies, now as a social phone app" is merely going to suck more.

mirimir 8y ago
When I was a kid, I generally avoided other kids. With a few exceptions. Because, as you say, "Lord of the Flies" bullshit. And damn, I like that: social media = "Lord of the Flies" :)