Happiness Study: Real Connections Outshine Social Media
The Decline in Happiness Among Young People
In North America and Western Europe, young people are experiencing a significant drop in happiness compared to 15 years ago. This decline coincides with a substantial increase in social media usage. According to findings published in the 2026 edition of the World Happiness Report, many people attribute this decrease in well-being to the rise in social media use.
The report, produced by the Wellbeing Research Center at the University of Oxford in collaboration with Gallup, the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, and an independent editorial board, highlights that heavy social media use is contributing to the decline in well-being among young people, particularly girls, in English-speaking countries and Western Europe.
Gallup World Poll data reveals that life evaluations among individuals under 25 in the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand have dropped sharply over the past decade. In contrast, the average for young people in other parts of the world has seen an upward trend. Despite similar levels of social media use compared to other countries, these nations experience the most significant drops in well-being among their youth.
An international survey of 15-year-olds across nearly 50 countries suggests a strong correlation between heavy social media use and a notable decrease in well-being. Young people who spend less than one hour per day on social media report higher levels of well-being than those who do not use it at all. However, adolescents are, according to one estimate, spending an average of 2.5 hours daily on social media platforms.
The World’s Happiest Countries
The 14th edition of the World Happiness Report also includes a ranking of the world’s happiest countries. Finland continues to lead the world in happiness for the ninth consecutive year, with Finns reporting an average score of 7.764 (out of 10) when asked to evaluate their lives.
Costa Rica has climbed to its highest position ever, maintaining a multi-year upward trend from 23rd in 2023 to 4th this year. Meanwhile, Switzerland has re-entered the top 10 after a one-year absence.
Countries such as Kosovo, Slovenia, and the Czech Republic continue to show upward trends, reflecting the growing convergence of happiness levels between Central and Eastern Europe and Western Europe.
English-Speaking Nations Fall Out of Top 10
The 2026 rankings mark the second year in a row that none of the English-speaking countries appear in the top 10. New Zealand ranks 11th, Ireland at 13th, Australia at 15th, the United States at 23rd, Canada at 25th, and the UK at 29th.
Nations located in or near zones of major conflict remain at the bottom of the rankings, highlighting the impact of geopolitical instability on overall well-being.
Expert Insights on Social Media and Well-Being
Jan-Emmanuel De Neve, Director of Oxford’s Wellbeing Research Center and Professor of Economics at the University of Oxford, emphasizes that the relationship between social media use and well-being is complex. He states, “The global evidence makes clear that the links between social media use and our well-being heavily depend on what platforms we’re using, who’s using them and how, as well as for how long.”
De Neve adds that heavy usage is associated with much lower well-being, but those who deliberately avoid social media may also miss out on some positive effects. He concludes, “Beyond the complexity, it is clear that we should look as much as possible to put the ‘social’ back into social media.”
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