The 2026 World Happiness Report has found a decline in wellbeing among young people, particularly in some English-speaking countries. Finland remains the world’s happiest country for the ninth year in a row.
The report indicates life satisfaction has fallen sharply for those under 25 over the past decade. Heavy social media use appears to be a contributing factor to this decline, especially among young girls.
Individuals using social media for more than five hours daily reported lower overall life satisfaction. This trend suggests a link between increased screen time and diminished wellbeing in Western countries.