A new edition of the World Happiness Report 2026, cited by The Guardian, shows that well-being is developing differently across the globe. Several Western countries are experiencing a decline.
At the same time, countries such as Finland continue to perform well, while several Eastern European nations are on the rise.
The well-being of young people also varies significantly from country to country, even when they use the same digital platforms.
Time plays a role
The study shows that the amount of time spent on social media is significant.
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Moderate use of around one hour per day is associated with higher satisfaction than both no use and heavy use.
Nevertheless, the average stands at approximately two and a half hours per day. According to the report, this may be a contributing factor to lower well-being among young people.
At the same time, researchers point out that concerns about finances and future job opportunities also affect young people’s mental state.
Different types of media
The research also shows that not all social media platforms affect users in the same way.
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Platforms used for direct interaction between people are associated with higher life satisfaction.
In contrast, platforms dominated by visual content and algorithm-driven feeds are linked to poorer mental well-being.
The type of social media is just as important as the time spent on it.
Sources: The Guardian, and World Happiness Report 2026.
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