Doom scrolling is hurting youth happiness, finds report

The 2026 World Happiness Report shows that heavy social media scrolling, especially in the West and English-speaking nations, is taking a serious toll on young people’s mental health.

The report highlights that excessive social media use is strongly linked to declining happiness, mainly among teenage girls in Western countries. Girls who spend more than 5 hours daily on social platforms report significantly lower happiness levels.

In the United States (ranked 23), Canada (ranked 25), Australia (ranked 15), and New Zealand (ranked 11), life satisfaction among people under age 25 has sharply dropped over the past decade.

What is happening?
Researchers point to algorithm-driven feeds, influencer culture, and image-heavy content as key reasons. These features often push unrealistic comparisons, leaving users feeling inadequate.

In contrast, young people who limit social media use to under one hour a day report higher well-being. Experts stress the need to make social media more meaningful and less harmful.

At the bottom are war and poverty-torn countries like Afghanistan, Malawi, and Sierra Leone.

Happiest nations hold strong
Finland ranks as the world’s happiest country for the ninth consecutive year. 

Countries like Denmark and Iceland continue to perform well, while Costa Rica climbs to fourth place, driven by strong family bonds.

Overall, the report highlights that real-world connections, stability, and support systems remain key to happiness.