What is the story about?
HELSINKI (AP) — The World Happiness Report 2026, released on Thursday, indicates that heavy social media use significantly decreases well-being among young
people, especially teenage girls in English-speaking nations and Western Europe. Published by the Wellbeing Research Centre at the University of Oxford, the report ranks Finland as the happiest country for the ninth consecutive year, with Nordic nations such as Iceland, Denmark, Sweden, and Norway also featuring prominently in the top ten.
Decline in Well-Being Among Youth
The report reveals that life evaluations among individuals under 25 in the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand have seen a significant decline over the past decade, primarily attributed to extensive time spent on social media platforms.Researchers suggest that long hours spent scrolling through social media contribute to this negative trend, particularly affecting the mental health of young women.
Costa Rica's Rise in Rankings
Costa Rica has made a notable ascent to fourth place in this year's rankings, up from 23rd in 2023. The report credits this rise to strong family bonds and social connections that enhance overall well-being.Jan-Emmanuel De Neve, an Oxford economics professor and co-editor of the report, remarked, 'We think it’s because of the quality of their social lives and the stability that they currently enjoy.'
Factors Behind Nordic Happiness
The consistent top rankings of Finland and other Nordic countries are attributed to a combination of wealth, equitable distribution, a protective welfare state, and high life expectancy.Conversely, nations embroiled in conflict, such as Afghanistan, continue to rank as the least happy, followed by Sierra Leone and Malawi.
Social Media's Impact on Teenage Girls
The report highlights a concerning trend among teenage girls, indicating that those who spend five or more hours on social media experience a decline in life satisfaction compared to their peers who use it less.Young individuals using social media for less than one hour daily report the highest well-being levels, while the average adolescent spends about 2.5 hours on these platforms.
De Neve emphasized, 'It is clear that we should look as much as possible to put the ‘social’ back into social media.'
The Role of Algorithmic Feeds
The report identifies algorithmic feeds and influencer culture as detrimental to youth well-being, promoting social comparisons that can harm self-esteem.Interestingly, in regions like the Middle East and South America, the relationship between social media use and well-being appears more positive, with youth well-being remaining stable despite high social media engagement.
The 2026 report marks the second consecutive year that no English-speaking countries have appeared in the top ten rankings, with the United States at 23rd, Canada at 25th, and the United Kingdom at 29th.
