5 ways how the Internet
can make us happier...
Jim Stolze - Virtual Happiness
Amsterdam, The Netherlands
TED University
February 6, 2009
Long Beach, CA

Could you live
without the internet?
And what would you do?
Jim Stolze
@ TED University
February 6, 2009
Long Beach, CA

“With no internet?
I’d have to open a
restaurant...”
Seth Godin
Jim Stolze
@ TED University
February 6, 2009
Long Beach, CA

“If I couldn’t surf the web,
I’d surf the waves of
Maui.”
TED-ster Tim Bratton
Jim Stolze
@ TED University
February 6, 2009
Long Beach, CA

Week 1

Funny / Strange / Adopting
Jim Stolze
@ TED University
February 6, 2009
Long Beach, CA

Week 2

Difficult / Angry / Regret
Jim Stolze
@ TED University
February 6, 2009
Long Beach, CA

Week 3

Piece of mind / Focus
Jim Stolze
@ TED University
February 6, 2009
Long Beach, CA

Week 4

Unsure / What’s next?
Jim Stolze
@ TED University
February 6, 2009
Long Beach, CA

Why?
Jim Stolze
@ TED University
February 6, 2009
Long Beach, CA

Internet Usage
& Happiness
www.virtualhappiness.org
Jim Stolze
@ TED University
February 6, 2009
Long Beach, CA

Internet user Yes - No

Benefits vs
Disadvantages
 
vs
Jim Stolze
@ TED University
February 6, 2009
Long Beach, CA



being doing surfing
[positive] [positive]
[positive]

joy w.i.l.f.-ing
optimistic
flow productivity tools
being in control
social interaction social networks
extravert
 loneliness lurking
introvert
stress overload
feeling of no control
 acting grumpy cyberbullying
depression
[negative] [negative]
[negative]

continious
partial
multitasking attention
productivity
 
content information
overload
explosion stress

5 ways how the Internet
can make us happier...
Just a random selection of our 50!
Jim Stolze
@ TED University
February 6, 2009
Long Beach, CA

#1: Don’t take your
blackberry into the
bedroom
1

#2: Accept that there
is more information
than you can read!
2

Results: 3,140,000,000 for information!

#3: Rely on social
filters more
3

#4: Know the
difference between
online and offline
4

#5: Charge 1 ct for
each e-mail!
5

- Forces us to think before we hit ‘send’
- We’ll gain 1,5 hours productivity a day
- ISP have a reasonable business model
- Average household can afford easily 20cts
- And the best reason of all...
5

SPAM!
5

The End
www.virtualhappiness.org
http://twitter.com/jimstolze
Jim Stolze
@ TED University
February 6, 2009
Long Beach, CA