While young people around the world are generally happier than they were two decades ago, this trend does not hold for the United States, other English-speaking countries, and parts of Western Europe.
The findings come from the latest World Happiness Report, released annually on March 20, the United Nations’ International Day of Happiness.
The report points to social media as one possible factor. Youth who spend more than five hours a day on social platforms consistently report lower levels of well-being, according to the survey.
Covering 96% of the world’s population across at least 140 countries, the report draws on a mix of in-person and phone interviews conducted in respondents’ native languages. “We observed declines in youth well-being in a subset of developed countries, particularly the US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand,” said Ilana Ron Levey, managing director at Gallup. Some declines were also noted in France, Ireland, Norway, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.
Interestingly, central European countries have seen youth happiness rise despite high internet and social media use, which Ron Levey attributes to strong family ties and social connections. She cautions, however, that social media is not the sole factor behind these trends but may play a significant role.
The Social Media ‘Trap’
The report highlights a curious paradox: young people often remain on social media even when it negatively affects their well-being. Cass Sunstein, coauthor and Robert Walmsley University Professor at Harvard Law School, analyzed three studies and found that many youth use social platforms mainly because their peers do — even if they wish the platforms didn’t exist.
Social pressure and fear of being left out keep them engaged. Sunstein’s research shows that users would not pay much to access these platforms but would require significant compensation to stay off them, despite the mental health benefits. “When people stay off Facebook for a month, they are happier, less anxious, and less depressed,” he said. Yet many would need to be paid around $85 to remain offline for another month, and college students demand even higher compensation for apps like TikTok or Instagram. Intriguingly, they would pay for their peer groups to step away too.
Zach Rausch, senior research scientist at New York University’s Stern School of Business, warned that social media should be treated as an adult product. He highlighted risks beyond mental health, including cyberbullying, addiction, sexual solicitation, and sextortion.
This year’s World Happiness Report underscores that while social media offers connection, its overuse — coupled with peer pressure — can erode well-being, especially among youth.
Research suggests that the amount of time teens spend on social media may be a key factor in their overall happiness.
A global analysis of 15-year-olds found that girls who use social media heavily report lower life satisfaction. “Social media seems to be more toxic for girls than for boys,” said Jean Twenge, professor of psychology at San Diego State University. Twenge also challenged the notion that teen girls need to be online to maintain a full social life. “In most regions, girls who did not use social media at all were the most likely to be completely satisfied with their lives.”
For boys, the negative effects were observed only in certain regions, highlighting that the impact of social media can vary by gender and context.
High Intensity, Not Use Itself, Drives Negative Effects
Martijn Burger, professor of happiness economics at the Open University of the Netherlands, emphasized that social media is not inherently harmful. “The key takeaway is that social media use becomes problematic at high intensity,” he explained.
Across studies, teens who spend more than five hours per day on social media consistently show lower well-being, including higher stress, more depressive symptoms, and increased negative social comparisons. The constant exposure to curated, idealized posts—especially from influencers or across multiple platforms—can intensify feelings of inadequacy.
The Peer Group Effect Matters
Researchers also highlight that the impact of social media depends on the surrounding digital environment. “The internet is not equally good or bad for everyone — it depends heavily on who you are and the digital world around you,” explained Zeynep Ozkok, Jonathan Rosborough, and Brandon Malloy, associate professors of economics at St. Francis Xavier University.
Social media can even be positive when peer exposure is low, but its influence becomes increasingly harmful when teens’ friends are highly engaged online, creating pressure to participate and compare.
The findings suggest that moderation, awareness of peer influence, and mindful consumption are key to protecting teen well-being in a highly connected world.
A recent study highlights how social media and internet use impact different generations. Researchers found that excessive online activity is most harmful for Gen Z, somewhat harmful for millennials, nearly neutral for Gen X, and even slightly beneficial for baby boomers. The findings reflect that younger people spend far more time online than older generations, making them more susceptible to its negative effects.
The report also notes that the internet may amplify existing social challenges rather than being the root cause. Declining trust, fewer in-person meetups with friends, and the sense among many young people that they are falling behind socially all play a role in reduced well-being.
How Your Online Habits Affect Your Mood
So, what can people do when social media feels unavoidable? Experts from the World Happiness Report offer guidance:
1. Focus on intensity, not just screen time.
Research shows well-being drops after about five hours of daily use. “Interventions should focus less on reducing use overall, and more on encouraging healthier patterns of use,” notes researcher Burger.
2. Reduce comparison triggers.
Scrolling feeds filled with influencers or “perfect life” content can worsen mood. Curate your feed by unfollowing or muting accounts that make you feel inadequate, helping reset algorithmic recommendations.
3. Make it a group effort.
It’s easier to cut back when friends participate. Try phone-free lunches, a weekend day off from apps, or a two-week “no scrolling after 9 p.m.” challenge with your peers.
4. Prioritize offline connections.
Well-being is strongly linked to trust, social bonds, and real-world connections. Replace social media time with sports, clubs, volunteering, or study groups instead of leaving a void.
5. Avoid absolute claims.
It’s easy to overstate the dangers—or dismiss them entirely. Check in regularly with family and friends and adjust your habits based on what feels right for your mental health.
6. Set intensity guardrails.
Limiting social media to about one hour a day may provide the most benefit for well-being, according to Ron Levey.
7. Parents as role models.
“Parents set the tone for how much social media their children use, whether they’re eight or sixteen. Parents play a supportive role in guiding healthy habits,” Levey adds.
By focusing on how, when, and why they use social media, young people and families can reduce stress and improve overall happiness while staying connected online.