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Heavy social media usage is harming youth well-being in many countries, according to a UN-backed report published Thursday. Finland remains at the top of its “happiness” ranking for the ninth consecutive year.
This year’s World Happiness Report emphasizes the role of social media, amid discussions in various nations about introducing or considering restrictions on social media access for younger populations.
The report notes significant drops in happiness among under-25s in the U.S., Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, with girls experiencing the most pronounced declines. Conversely, young people elsewhere around the globe report feeling better about their lives.
“Most young people worldwide are happier today than they were two decades ago, and this positive trend warrants attention,” said Jon Clifton, CEO of Gallup, a contributor to the report.
The influence of social media on well-being is described as complex. Factors such as the amount of time spent on different platforms, how social media is used, and demographic variables like gender and socio-economic background all play a part.
“Heavy social media use correlates with lower well-being, but avoiding these platforms entirely might lead to missing out on some benefits,” explained Jan-Emmanuel De Neve, one of the report’s editors and an economics professor at Oxford University.
Among the 147 countries analyzed, Afghanistan, still embroiled in conflict and led by the Taliban since 2021 amid serious human rights concerns, reported the lowest life satisfaction.
The happiness index considers six key elements: GDP per capita, life expectancy, social support, freedom of choice, generosity, and perceptions of corruption—all based on data averaged over three years.
Nordic countries continue to dominate the rankings, with Iceland, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and Finland occupying five of the top six spots this year. Costa Rica broke into the top five for the first time, marking its highest-ever position among Latin American nations.
Finland retains its lead with a score of 7.764 out of 10. Juho Saari, a professor of social and healthcare policy at Tampere University, observed that despite challenges like record-high unemployment and substantial cuts to social welfare programs, Finland remains the happiest country in the world.
He added, “It suggests that political factors aren’t as influential as personal life and community.” Known for its numerous lakes, sauna culture, and comprehensive welfare system, Finland’s population of 5.6 million typically reports high levels of trust in authorities and low inequality.
As Karolina Iissalo, a 30-year-old who celebrated her birthday at a city sauna in Helsinki, noted, “Pristine nature and the tranquility here are probably our biggest strengths, making it a wonderful place to be.”
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