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

The podcast explores the concept of "product traps," situations where people use products, particularly social media, because of perceived social costs if they don't, even when those products decrease their well-being. Cass Sunstein, a behavioral scientist, introduces this idea from his chapter in the World Happiness Report, highlighting how social media platforms exploit fear of missing out (FOMO) and create negative externalities for non-users. Research reveals people are unwilling to pay for social media use but demand significant compensation to abstain, unless everyone else also abstains, indicating a collective action problem. Potential solutions include community agreements, company interventions like usage reminders, and government regulations such as disclosure requirements, drawing parallels to successful interventions in smoking.