You Are What You Click

How Being Selective, Positive, and Creative Can Transform Your Social Media Experience

By: Brian A. Primack

Narrated by: Eric Jason Martin

An empowering, forward-thinking solution for creating intentional and healthy social media habits from an expert on media, technology, and health.

Internationally acclaimed behavioral scientist and social media expert Brian Primack, MD, PhD, believes we do not need to swear off social media, delete all our online accounts, or give up our phones to live healthier, happier lives. In You Are What You Click, he offers a new approach to digital wellness and a realist's perspective on how what we consume online affects our well-being. In response, he presents a "social media pyramid" that personalizes our tech diet so we can enjoy a fruitful, balanced relationship with social media.

While many of us turn to social media looking for a sense of connection and comfort, the data show that it may paradoxically leave us feeling more alone and depressed. Drawing on more than 20 years of original research, Dr. Primack explains the fascinating nuances of our relationship with social media, its impact on our mental health, and the dangers of social media using us instead of the other way around. He empowers us to take back control with a simple method: being more selective, positive, and creative with our lives online.

Dr. Primack introduces surprising strategies you can use right away to fine-tune your online experience and discover your definition of digital balance. Through short, actionable chapters, you'll learn how to:

• Tailor your social media use to your personality.
• Select positive relationships over toxic ones.
• Overcome comparison syndrome and the fear of missing out.
• Fill your feed with meaningful, humorous, and uplifting content.
• Optimize your news intake and resist doomscrolling.
• Improve your sleep, create "tech holidays", and more.

With innovative strategies for managing technology, you'll transform your relationship with tech and discover how to make social media work for you.

You Are What You Click offers a science-backed approach from a credentialed doctor: Dr. Brian Primack has an MD and a PhD in education and behavioral science. Primack is the go-to expert on this topic. His work on the intersection of media and health has been cited nearly 6,000 times in peer-reviewed scholarly literature, and he has been featured in major media outlets across the world.

For wellness audiences, parents, and anyone who uses social media: Dropping off the digital map or deleting all our social media accounts isn't the only option - and often isn't something we feel ready to do. Rather than digital abstinence, with Primack's three-step plan, tech lovers will be able to understand how to regulate their online social platforms in healthier ways.

A balanced perspective on technology and social media in a positive light: Almost every book in this genre portrays technology in a negative or even scary way. With this book, listeners will learn how to adjust and balance their presence online with a personalized plan they can use across all platforms, no matter what new social media app goes public next. Primack offers an empowering solution that is forward-thinking and will continue to be relevant as technology becomes more immersed into our lives.

Quick, practical advice: You Are What You Click is broken into short, actionable chapters that allow listeners to understand the research, take action, and see results - perfect for short attention spans whittled down by Facebook and Instagram stories, Twitter, Snapchat, and TikTok!

For fans of personality books: Fans of books like The Road Back to You: An Enneagram Journey to Self-Discovery and The Four Tendencies: The Indispensable Personality Profiles That Reveal How to Make Your Life Better will love the personality quiz and personalized solutions Primack offers for being selective, creative, and healthy with social media use.

©2021 Brian A. Primack (P)2021 Chronicle Prism

Critic reviews

“A powerful guide to navigating social media with fascinating research, humorous stories, and simple and actionable advice.” (Tina Seelig, Stanford University professor and international best-selling author of What I Wish I Knew When I Was 20, inGenius, and Creativity Rules)

“You Are What You Click gives readers a fantastic perspective and set of tools to engage with social media in a positive way. I highly recommend this book if you want to rethink using social media so it doesn’t use you.” (Tiffany Shlain, Emmy-nominated filmmaker and author of the national best seller 24/6)

“Dr. Primack’s prescription for how to optimize social media in our lives is powerful and effective. This is an engaging read that leaves us better equipped to create healthier lives alongside the world of technology.” (Dorie Clark, author of Reinventing You and Duke University professor)

Helpful guide for living with social media

Informative, accessible, practical. Helpful framing and practical recommendations. Definitely recommend, whether you think you need help or just want to review your current practices.