happesuse

Happesuse is a neologism used in some discussions of design, psychology, and media theory to describe the intentional creation, measurement, and deployment of happiness as a usable resource within systems such as software, products, workplaces, or public communications. The term blends happiness with use and is often associated with debates about ethical design and persuasive technology.

In practice, happesuse analysis examines how interfaces, feedback loops, rewards, and social features influence users’ reported mood or satisfaction. Proponents argue that harnessing positive affect can improve engagement, well-being, and productivity when done transparently and with user consent. Critics warn that reducing happiness to a metric can obscure complexity, pressure users to perform happiness, or mask manipulation.

Usage and scope: The concept appears in discussions around user experience research, well-being metrics, and ethical guidelines for persuasive design. Related notions include hedonomics, wellbeing metrics, affective computing, and positive psychology.

Examples: A platform might implement happesuse by tracking self-reported happiness scores alongside usage data and adjusting content recommendations to maintain positive affect, while offering opt-out options. Notable debates focus on privacy, data ownership, and the risk of happiness saturation.

See also: hedonomics; affective computing; persuasive design; wellbeing metrics; positive psychology.