Book Club with Michael Smerconish
Vivek Wadhwa: "Your Happiness Was Hacked"
Mar 3, 2025
Vivek Wadhwa, co-author of "Your Happiness Was Hacked" and a respected professor at Carnegie Mellon, dives into the challenging relationship we have with technology. He discusses how digital devices can lead to addiction and emotional struggles, especially among teens. Wadhwa highlights the stress of constant connectivity and its toll on work-life balance. He advocates for establishing boundaries with technology to reclaim focus and enhance personal well-being, encouraging listeners to navigate their digital lives more mindfully.
14:36
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Quick takeaways
- The pervasive influence of social media fosters constant comparisons, contributing significantly to rising mental health issues among younger generations.
- The phenomenon of 'notification inflation' blurs work-life boundaries, compelling individuals to remain perpetually responsive, disrupting personal time and well-being.
Deep dives
The Paradox of Technology and Happiness
Despite the numerous gifts technology offers, research indicates that Americans are experiencing increasing levels of unhappiness, particularly among younger generations. The rise in mental health issues, like teenage suicide and depression, correlates with the pervasive influence of social media, where constant comparisons to curated snapshots of others' lives often lead to feelings of jealousy. The discussion emphasizes that those over 35 relate closely to the struggles outlined in the book, while younger audiences may not fully grasp the impact of these changes. This generational divide highlights a critical shift in how happiness is approached, with older generations recalling a simpler life before the digital era.
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