Social Media, Youth and the Happiness Gap

Key Takeaway:
Scrolling through feeds is eroding the well‑being of young people, especially teenage girls in English‑speaking and Western European nations.

1. Youth Well‑Being Declines

• Life Satisfaction Drop:
  Under‑25s in the U.S., Canada, Australia and New Zealand have lost almost a full point on a 0‑10 scale over the last decade.

• Social Media Hours:
  Heavy users (5 + hours/day) show the lowest happiness; those spending less than an hour report higher scores.

• Platform Matters:
• Algorithm‑driven, visual feeds encourage comparison → lower well‑being.
• Communication‑focused apps (e.g., messaging) correlate with better outcomes.

2. Country Rankings

6. Bottom Line

The study underscores that heavy social media engagement is a significant factor in the decline of young people’s well‑being, especially where visual, algorithmic feeds dominate. Policymakers and parents must balance digital engagement with mental health safeguards.