Justified Posteriors Is Social Media a Trap?
Jan 26, 2025
Is social media really a trap? Hosts delve into fascinating research on college students' experiences with TikTok and Instagram, revealing a paradox where users crave connection yet feel trapped by the platforms. The discussion touches on the fear of missing out (FOMO) and how it contributes to anxiety, while also critiquing the superficial nature of online interactions. Insights on competition for attention and the mental health challenges faced by users highlight the complexities of engagement and societal expectations surrounding social media.
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Sports at Duke as a Negative Externality
- Seth Benzell gives an example of a negative externality.
- Someone who dislikes sports at Duke University might feel negatively impacted by the popular basketball culture.
Economic vs. Cultural Impact of Social Media
- Andrey Fradkin and Seth Benzell discuss the "battle of the sexes" framing.
- They debate whether social media's impact should be viewed as an economic or cultural issue.
Collective Trap Hypothesis
- The podcast discusses the paper "When Product Markets Become Collective Traps: The Case of Social Media."
- The paper explores whether social media creates a "collective trap" where users, despite its popularity, would prefer a world without it.