Social media use tied to lower youth wellbeing, report finds
The World Happiness Report highlights concerns about the impact of social media on young people’s wellbeing. Researchers found that excessive use is linked to lower life satisfaction, especially in English-speaking countries. Moderate use, however, may have positive effects, and how social media is used matters more than how much it is used. The report emphasizes the importance of healthy online interactions and strong offline connections.
What we know
- The World Happiness Report found that higher social media use is generally associated with lower life satisfaction among young people, particularly in North America, Australia, and New Zealand.
- Moderate internet use—less than one hour daily—was linked to higher life satisfaction compared to no use.
- The report noted that platforms focused on communication and social interaction are more beneficial for happiness than those driven by algorithmic content.
- A strong sense of school belonging had a greater impact on life satisfaction than social media use.
- The report calls for closer monitoring of social media platform design and encourages promoting healthy online and offline social connections.
