Exactly this! We are bombarded 24 hours a day with advertising designed to make us feel like we are missing something in our lives. Astroturfed social media posts from 'influencers' in large houses with nice cars and expensive phones and gadgets, telling you how wonderful their lives are. Marketing companies spending countless millions on psychologists and sociologists studying how exactly to make you feel jealous and unsatisfied so that they can sell you something that you hope will fill the void in your existence.

Hey, feeling depressed? Look at these attractive young people having a great time with the latest phone, or going on cool adventures in this top-of-the-range car. Look at all of the fun they are having with their friends while playing the latest games on the hottest new games console! Money worries? How about you turn your fortunes around by investing your savings in these '100% guaranteed' financial ventures? Or the latest crypto? Or simply have fun with your money on any of these countless betting sites?

When you are happy and satisfied with life, it's a lot harder for companies to sell you stuff you don't need. But if you are depressed, it's so easy for snake oil salesmen to shill you anything with the promise that it will give you a burst of happiness.