International Day of Happiness

  Among girls worldwide, non-users and light users of social media were more satisfied with their lives than heavy users. Key Insights  Although many studies have documented links between heavy social media use and poor mental health , fewer studies have explored associations with positive well-being , especially in international datasets. In 2022, the OECD’s PISA survey, conducted in 47 countries, asked over 270,000 15- to 16-year-olds how many hours a day they spent using social media and how satisfied they were with their lives. Among girls, mean life satisfaction was highest among light users of social media (less than an hour a day) and declined with further hours of use. Among boys, this pattern held only in Western Europe and English-speaking countries. The mean differences obscure a notable pattern, especially among boys. Compared to light users, a larger percentage of the heaviest users (7+ hours a day) had both the highest level of life satisfaction (10) and the lo...

The key point is that many social media users wish the Social Media platforms they use did not exist and would even be willing to pay to put it out of existence. Key Insights  Three empirical studies raise serious doubts about whether social media use makes people happy , with implications for valuation, choice, and well-being. The central conclusion is that many people use social media because other people use social media. If social media use were somehow reduced or even stopped, many people would be better off , and they are aware of that fact.  The first study finds that people are willing to pay far less to use  Social Media platforms  than they would demand to stop using them. The fact that people would pay little or nothing to use such platforms raises the possibility that many think they are wasting time when doing so .  The second study finds that people lose welfare from using Facebook. Even after experiencing a happier month without Facebook, howeve...

  Creating more equitable digital environments will require regulating platforms, as well as strengthening the social resources that help adolescents navigate a highly digitalised and unequal world. Key Insights  For adolescents , Problematic Social Media Use (PSMU) is associated with more psychological complaints and lower life evaluation in all 43 countries we examined. These associations are most pronounced in Anglo-Celtic countries and least problematic in the Caucasus-Black Sea region. Globally, the relationship between PSMU and lower wellbeing is stronger among adolescents from lower socioeconomic backgrounds than among their higher-status peers. Socioeconomic differences in the relationship between PSMU and adolescent wellbeing are stronger for life evaluation than for psychological complaints. Socioeconomic gradients for life evaluation are consistent across Anglo-Celtic, Caucasus-Black Sea, Central-Eastern, Nordic, and Western European countries, but are weak in...

 Specifically, we ask: do internet and social media use affect subjective wellbeing not only directly, but also indirectly by altering levels of societal trust and social connection? Key Insights  Previous studies from the World Happiness Report highlight the importance of trust and social connections for wellbeing. This chapter explores how the rise of internet and social media use has affected wellbeing directly , and also indirectly by altering trust, social connections, and emotional bonds. We use four rounds of the European Social Survey (ESS), covering 30 countries over the years 2016 to 2024, to investigate the impact of internet use upon wellbeing. In order to measure the total impact of internet use, we instrument it by M-Lab data on local internet speed. The instrumental variable results reveal a significant negative coefficient on internet use that is not visible in standard OLS estimations. The estimated relationship between internet use and wellbeing varies sharp...

   Most studies on the relationship between social media use and well-being have been carried out in Western, high-income settings, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Western Europe. Although valuable, these insights cannot be generalized. Key Insights  Social media use in the Middle East and North Africa is among the highest in the world, although considerable differences appear among countries. Heavy use is more common than in other regions: between 20% and 40% of users reported more than five hours of use in 2023–2024. Social media use is heavier among certain social groups. Gen Z, men, single individuals, less religious and more affluent respondents, as well as those with higher education, are much more likely to be heavy users. On average, heavy social media use (more than five hours per day) is associated with lower wellbeing . Heavy users are significantly more likely to report higher stress and depressive symptoms, and believe they are w...

The 2026 edition of the World Happiness Report , with the latest global happiness rankings powered by data from the Gallup World Poll, examines the striking differences in how young people have fared over time across countries and regions. Examining the association between social media use and wellbeing across age groups and cultures , and drawing on interdisciplinary contributions from leading experts, the 2026 edition seeks to clarify what societies should consider as they navigate a rapidly evolving digital age. In partnership with Gallup, Semafor will convene to explore the latest report insights and what the research reveals about generational change , loneliness and social connection . Leaders across research, policy, media, and technology will examine how institutions and communities might cultivate solutions that prioritize connection over distraction

Everyone needs some alone time. But you may want to socialize more if your “me” time overwhelmingly outweighs your “we” time as you get older. Too much time alone, whether socially isolated (physically alone) or lonely (feeling alone), can impact your mental wellness, physical health and wallet. Losing your sense of connection and community can alter your mind and behavior, leading to increased risks for chronic health conditions. As a result, socially isolated people tend to have greater medical expenses and make more trips to the emergency department. The good news is that even if you’re part of the 28% of older adults living alone, there are ways to boost your connection with others and social success. Here’s what you need to know about social isolation, loneliness and aging. Learn more on  How (and why) to stay social as you age?