The 2026 World Happiness Report says people who are more inclined to use social media seem to be less satisfied with their lives.
The World Happiness Report is released annually as part of the International Day of Happiness celebrated on March 20.
The report ranks countries based on how people rate their lives and well-being.
The 2026 report found that life satisfaction among those under 25, especially in English-speaking and Western European countries, has fallen sharply over the past decade.
According to the report, heavy social media usage has eroded personal well-being among young people across the world.
The study, based on surveys of around 100,000 people across 140 countries, found life satisfaction among under-25s in countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, has fallen sharply over the past decade.
The report said most US college students wish social media platforms did not exist.
“They use them because others are using them, but they would prefer it if no one did” the report said.
The findings came as governments across the world increasingly consider restrictions on social media use by minors.
The annual happiness report is published by the University of Oxford’s Wellbeing Research Centre in partnership with Gallup and the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network.
Rankings reflect three-year averages and consider factors such as GDP per capita, social support, life expectancy, freedom, generosity and perceptions of corruption.