Study reveals social media use linked to decreased happiness among youth

UN-Backed Report Reveals Decline in Youth Wellbeing in Western Countries Due to Social Media Use

A recent report by the World Happiness Report has found that heavy social media use is contributing to a “worrying decline” in wellbeing among young people in Western countries. The report, published by the University of Oxford’s Wellbeing Research Centre in partnership with Gallup and the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, analyzed data from 15 Western countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

According to the report, significant declines in youth wellbeing were observed over the past two decades. In contrast, young people in regions covering 90 percent of the world’s population reported higher life satisfaction than before. The researchers noted that heavy social media use is an important factor contributing to this decline, particularly in some countries.

The report also found that the links between social media use and wellbeing vary across platforms and continents. Outside of the English-speaking world and Western Europe, the relationship between social media use and wellbeing is more positive. The top 10 happiest nations, according to the report, were Finland, Iceland, Denmark, Costa Rica, Sweden, Norway, the Netherlands, Israel, Switzerland, and Australia.

The decline in youth wellbeing has been a growing concern for governments, with reports linking social media platforms to bullying, sexual exploitation, and worsening mental health. In response, some countries have introduced restrictions on social media use among young people. For example, Australia recently implemented a ban on social media use for under 16s, with similar plans underway in Indonesia, France, and Greece.

The report’s findings provide valuable insights into the impact of social media on youth wellbeing and highlight the need for further research and policy development to address this issue.

Source: Al Jazeera