Unpacking Happiness: Lessons from Smartphone Photography Among College Students

Abstract

Smartphone photography is gaining popularity among young adults and can be used for expressing mood. However, how photos are used for expressing happiness is understudied. This paper presents the findings of a study involving 27 college students who were instructed to take one photo daily representing a happy moment for three weeks. The participants also viewed their daily photos three times a day and reported their mood at the time. Results show that while users reported positive feelings in general, the feeling was calmer for individuals who took photos to make others happy than for those whose photos were intended to make themselves happy. Although food is the most frequent photo theme in this study, photos about social connections evoke the strongest happy sensation. Other common photo themes associated with happiness include entertainment, personal achievement, and nature. We offer insights into enhancing young adults' mental well-being using smartphone photography that integrates prosocial behavior and vitalizes links to strong ties.