Social media use affecting youth wellbeing; UN report

Helsinki, March 19, 2026: Heavy use of social media is affecting the wellbeing of young people in many countries, according to the latest World Happiness Report. The UN-sponsored report also ranked Finland as the happiest country in the world for the ninth consecutive year.

The report highlighted that young people under 25 in countries like the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand are experiencing “dramatic declines” in happiness. Girls were found to be particularly affected.

By contrast, youth in other parts of the world reported higher levels of life satisfaction compared to 20 years ago. Jon Clifton, CEO of Gallup, which contributed to the report, said this positive trend among young people deserves attention.

Social media’s complex role

The report noted that social media affects wellbeing in a “complex” way. Factors include the amount of time spent online, the type of platform, how it is used, and demographic characteristics such as gender and socio-economic background.

Professor Jan-Emmanuel De Neve from Oxford University, one of the report’s editors, said: “Heavy usage is associated with much lower wellbeing, but those deliberately off social media also appear to be missing out on some positive effects.”

Happiness index and global trends

The report ranked 147 countries based on six factors: GDP per capita, life expectancy, social support, freedom to make life choices, generosity, and perceptions of corruption.

Nordic nations dominated the top rankings. Finland, Iceland, Denmark, Sweden, and Norway occupied five of the top six spots. Costa Rica ranked fourth, the highest position ever for a Latin American country.

Finland remains at the top

Finland scored 7.764 on a 10-point scale, retaining its top position. Juho Saari, a social and healthcare policy professor at Tampere University, said that despite high unemployment and welfare cuts, Finland remains the happiest country.

He explained that private life, trust in authorities, and low inequality are more important than politics in determining happiness.

Lifestyle and wellbeing

Finland’s residents enjoy thousands of lakes, sauna culture, and peaceful surroundings. Karolina Iissalo, 30, said: “We have pristine nature, and the peace and quiet here is probably our trump card for why it’s nice to be here.”

The report underscores that wellbeing is influenced by lifestyle, social support, and community, alongside economic factors.