The World Happiness Report 2026 has found that people who use social media more frequently tend to be less satisfied with their lives, raising fresh concerns about its impact on global well-being.
Released annually to mark the International Day of Happiness, the report ranks countries based on how individuals assess their quality of life and overall happiness.
The latest findings show a sharp decline in life satisfaction among people under 25, particularly in English-speaking and Western European countries, over the past decade. According to the report, heavy social media use has significantly eroded personal well-being among young people worldwide.
The study, which surveyed about 100,000 individuals across 140 countries, found that life satisfaction among under-25s in countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand has dropped markedly in recent years.
It also revealed that many college students in the United States would prefer a world without social media platforms, even though they continue using them due to peer pressure.
“They use them because others are using them, but they would prefer it if no one did,” the report stated.
The findings come amid growing global discussions around regulating social media use among minors, with several governments considering restrictions to protect young users.
The report is published by the University of Oxford Wellbeing Research Centre in partnership with Gallup and the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network. It evaluates happiness using three-year averages and factors such as GDP per capita, social support, life expectancy, freedom, generosity, and perceptions of corruption.
