Excessive Social Media Use Harms Youth Wellbeing, Report Finds

The World Happiness Report indicates a connection between excessive social media use and declining wellbeing among youth, especially in English-speaking countries such as North America, Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and Ireland. The report notes that higher levels of social media use generally correlate with lower life satisfaction among young people.

It emphasizes that while moderate social media use may have positive effects, excessive use leads to a decline in youth wellbeing. The report also highlights that access to the internet and social media can be beneficial in certain regions outside the North America and New Zealand group, suggesting that social media platforms focusing on social interaction can enhance happiness.

The report calls for closer monitoring of social media platform designs to mitigate negative impacts on youth wellbeing and stresses the importance of promoting healthy online interactions and strengthening offline social connections.