Can we tell how happy people are from their online activity – and can living digitally actually make you happier?

 "HAPPINESS is hard enough to pin down in the real world, but in the digital realm, the stumbling blocks are more fundamental.

Data is mostly created by a self-selecting group of bloggers, tweeters or social network fiends - and people may alter the extent of their online interactions depending on mood. 'Are they more likely to distance themselves from Facebook when they are unhappy?' wondered Julie Kane Ahkter and Steven Soria of Stanford University, California, who analysed mood in Facebook status updates. Equally tricky is the desire for online popularity, which can lead people to fake happiness online to keep friends."
via New Scientist/read more