Why is social media so hard to quit? We waste hours scrolling, feel worse when we log off, and still find ourselves going back for more.

Dr. Laurie sits down with Dr. Cass Sunstein, co-author of (00:00:57) Nudge, to explore a new concept from the 2026 World Happiness Report: the “product trap.” Together, they unpack why we keep returning to platforms that make us unhappy — and what it might take to finally break free.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Technopoly: The Surrender of Culture to Technology

Nudge: Improving Decisions About Health, Wealth, and Happiness

“World Happiness Report 2026”

“The Problem of Social Cost”

“Valuing Facebook”

“The Welfare Effects of Social Media”

“When Product Markets Become Collective Traps: The Case of Social Media”

“Libertarian Paternalism Is Not an Oxymoron”

Why is social media so hard to quit? We waste hours scrolling, feel worse when we log off, and still find ourselves going back for more.
Dr. Laurie sits down with Dr. Cass Sunstein, co-author of (00:00:57) <a href="https://books.apple.com/us/book/nudge/id1566099463">Nudge</a>, to explore a new concept from the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.worldhappiness.report/ed/2026/">2026 World Happiness Report</a>: the &ldquo;product trap.&rdquo; Together, they unpack why we keep returning to platforms that make us unhappy &mdash; and what it might take to finally break free.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
<a href="https://books.apple.com/us/book/technopoly/id436687800">Technopoly: The Surrender of Culture to Technology</a>
<a href="https://books.apple.com/us/book/nudge/id1566099463">Nudge: Improving Decisions About Health, Wealth, and Happiness</a>
&ldquo;<a href="https://www.worldhappiness.report/">World Happiness Report 2026</a>&rdquo;
&ldquo;<a href="https://www.sfu.ca/~wainwrig/Econ400/coase-socialcost.pdf">The Problem of Social Cost</a>&rdquo;
&ldquo;<a href="https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/behavioural-public-policy/article/abs/valuing-facebook/1EB05F025CF85D7DACFE795602C26330">Valuing Facebook</a>&rdquo;
&ldquo;<a href="https://www.aeaweb.org/articles?id=10.1257/aer.20190658">The Welfare Effects of Social Media</a>&rdquo;
&ldquo;<a href="https://www.aeaweb.org/articles?id=10.1257/aer.20231468">When Product Markets Become Collective Traps: The Case of Social Media</a>&rdquo;
&ldquo;<a href="https://chicagounbound.uchicago.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1184&amp;context=public_law_and_legal_theory">Libertarian Paternalism Is Not an Oxymoron</a>&rdquo;

You might think you know what it takes to lead a happier life… more money, a better job, or Instagram-worthy vacations. You’re dead wrong. Yale professor Dr. Laurie Santos has studied the science of happiness and found that many of us do the exact opposite of what will truly make our lives better. Based on the psychology course she teaches at Yale -- the most popular class in the university’s 300-year history -- Laurie will take you through the latest scientific research and share some surprising and inspiring stories that will change the way you think about happiness.

You might think you know what it takes to lead a happier life… more money, a better job, or Instagram-worthy vacations. You’re dead wrong. Yale professor Dr. Laurie Santos has studied the science of happiness and found that many of us do the exact opposite of what will truly make our lives better. Based on the psychology course she teaches at Yale -- the most popular class in the university’s 300-year history -- Laurie will take you through the latest scientific research and share some surprising and inspiring stories that will change the way you think about happiness.

The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos

Why You're Still Using Social Media (Even If You Want to Stop) with Dr. Cass Sunstein

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/593ac43b-479a-4a3e-aeba-b413015cccbe/transcript