The World Happiness Report 2026 indicates that extensive use of social media is associated with decreased life satisfaction among teenagers. This conclusion is drawn from self-reported data collected from more than 270,000 students across 47 different countries.

Findings on Social Media Use

The report highlights that girls who limited their social media usage to less than one hour per day reported the highest levels of life satisfaction. In contrast, satisfaction levels tended to decline as the amount of time spent on social media increased. For boys, the results varied by region, but those who engaged heavily with social media were more likely to report lower satisfaction levels.

The study also noted that both heavy users and those who do not use social media exhibited significant differences in their overall well-being. According to a report by NDTV Tech (Gadgets 360), these findings suggest a complex relationship between social media engagement and the mental health of teenagers, emphasizing the need for further exploration into how online interactions affect young people's lives.