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World Happiness Report 2026 shows a complex global picture of social media and happiness
Life evaluations among under 25s in the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand have dropped dramatically (by almost one point on a 0-10 scale) over the past decade, while the average for the young in the rest of the world has increased, according to Gallup World Poll data.
One international survey of 15-year-olds in nearly 50 countries suggests heavy social media use is associated, on average, with a significant drop in wellbeing among the students surveyed, though any effect is highly dependent on the type of social media platform being used, how it is used, as well as demographic factors such as gender and socio-economic status.
The global evidence makes clear that the links between social media use and our wellbeing heavily depend on what platforms we’re using, who’s using them and how, as well as for how long. Heavy usage is associated with much lower wellbeing, but those deliberately off social media also appear to be missing out on some positive effects. Beyond the complexity, it is clear that we should look as much as possible to put the ‘social’ back into social media.
Jan-Emmanuel De Neve, Director, Wellbeing Research Centre
Other factors, such as social connections and a sense of belonging, are associated with much bigger changes in how respondents feel about their lives.
Young people who use social media for less than one hour per day report the highest levels of wellbeing – higher than those who do not use social media at all. But adolescents are, by one estimate, spending an average of 2.5 hours a day on social media.
The findings are published today ahead of the UN’s International Day of Happiness. The rankings are powered by Gallup World Poll data and other sources, and analysed by an international team of leading experts in wellbeing science.
Contributors include the psychologist Jonathan Haidt, author of The Anxious Generation, generational differences expert Jean Twenge, and Nudge co-author Cass Sunstein.
The evidence describes a complex global picture at a time when many countries are seeking to implement greater legislative protections for under-16s online.
Further key findings published in World Happiness Report 2026 include:
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Despite similar levels of social media use compared to other countries, the largest drops in wellbeing among young people are observed in English-speaking countries, in particular in the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
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An association between social media and reduced wellbeing is found in multiple sources including surveys, cross-sectional and longitudinal studies, and natural experiments …
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… but there is considerable variation in the interpretation of evidence by professional science organisations, including differences in citation accuracy, contextual detail, acknowledgement of limitations, and conclusion strength.
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Platforms driven by algorithmically curated content tend to demonstrate a negative association with wellbeing, yet those designed to facilitate social connections show a clear positive association with happiness.
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Social media creates a standard collective action problem – if social media channels exist, people lose out by not joining, but most people agree they would be better off if they did not exist.
The 14th edition of the World Happiness Report also contains a ranking of the world’s happiest countries:
Finland leads the world in happiness for a record ninth year in a row, with Finns reporting an average score of 7.764 (out of 10) when asked to evaluate their lives.
Costa Rica (4th) climbs to its best-ever position, continuing a multi-year rise from a low of 23rd in 2023, while former table-topper Switzerland (10th) re-enters the top 10 after a one-year absence.
Continued upward trends for countries such as Kosovo (16th), Slovenia (18th) and Czechia (20th) underline the convergence of happiness levels between Central and Eastern Europe, and Western Europe.
The 2026 rankings mark the second year in a row that none of the English-speaking countries, New Zealand (11th), Ireland (13th), Australia (15th), United States (23rd), Canada (25th), and the UK (29th) appear in the top 10, with only half in the top 20. Nations in or near zones of major conflict remain at the foot of the rankings.
Rankings are based on a three-year average of each population’s average assessment of their quality of life. Experts then seek to account for the variations across countries and over time using factors such as GDP per capita, healthy life expectancy, having someone to count on, a sense of freedom, generosity and perceptions of corruption.
These factors help to explain the differences across nations, while the rankings themselves are based solely on the answers people give when asked to rate their own lives.
Jan-Emmanuel De Neve, Director of Oxford’s Wellbeing Research Centre, Professor of Economics at the University of Oxford, and an editor of the World Happiness Report, said: ‘The global evidence makes clear that the links between social media use and our wellbeing heavily depend on what platforms we’re using, who’s using them and how, as well as for how long. Heavy usage is associated with much lower wellbeing, but those deliberately off social media also appear to be missing out on some positive effects. Beyond the complexity, it is clear that we should look as much as possible to put the ‘social’ back into social media.’
Read the report in full at worldhappiness.report, and explore the data at data.worldhappiness.report.
For more information about this story or republishing this content, please contact [email protected]
The alleged racially aggravated incident happened outside the H&M clothing shop in the Westgate shopping centre at around 8pm on Saturday, March 28.
While walking past the shop, a woman was approached by a man who tapped her with a mobile phone.
He is alleged by police to have said: “I was going to cut your face, stop ruining my country.”
Thames Valley Police has now released an image of a man who they would like to speak to as part of the investigation.
READ MORE: Plans for new £3bn monorail network in Oxford revealed to reduce congestion
“We would like to speak to them as we believe they may have vital information about a racially aggravated incident,” a police spokesman said.
Anyone with information, or the person pictured, should call 101 or make a report on Thames Valley Police’s website, quoting reference number 43260152611.
The 35-year-old is studying at Oxford University, in the city where she grew up, having opted to study a Master’s degree in creative writing in 2023.
It was announced last year that Ms Watson had switched to a DPhil while on her acting break, and she previously had studied at two local schools, the Dragon School and Headington School.
The actress is well known for her iconic role as Hermione Granger in all eight of the Harry Potter films, released from 2001 to 2011.
READ MORE: Leonardo DiCaprio buys £95m Cotswolds castle for mega movie deal
In a report by Far Out this week, it has been said that rock legend Patti Smith helped Ms Watson with an issue in the past.
The American singer, who has been labelled by critics and fans as the “godmother of punk”, played a show at Oxford’s New Theatre back in September 2024.
Far Out reports that Mrs Smith gave Ms Watson some advice about dealing with press attention.
The actress previously told Variety: “She [Patti Smith] said I needed to find a way to block out the noise.”
READ MORE: Ryan Reynolds in the Cotswolds as Blake Lively meets Prue Leith
Mrs Smith is said to have been impressed that the Harry Potter star managed to ignore any attention despite being in a crowded space.
The 79-year-old was referring to a previous gig of hers, which Ms Watson attended, revealing the actress had managed to enjoy it.
“I was interested that despite everyone watching her, she still managed to dance and interact with her friend that night as any girl her age might,” said Mrs Smith previously.
The Oscar-winning actor has completed the purchase of the sprawling estate on the edge of the tiny Oxfordshire village of Upper Fibbingdon-on-the-Green.
According to inside sources today (Wednesday, April 1), the 51-year-old is also enrolling on a drama degree at Oxford University, saying he hopes to “pick up a few acting tips” while also working on other movies such as Once Upon a Time in Cotswolds in addition to The Wolf of Broad Street.
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His agent described it as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Mr DiCaprio to immerse himself in British student life while continuing to develop his craft away from the glare of Hollywood.
The representative added that the star wanted a base that allowed him to live like a local while still having room for friends, family and the occasional A‑list visitor.
Dating back to the 14th century, Fibbingdon Castle is a turreted, honey-stone pile overlooking rolling fields and dry-stone walls.
The property comes with a private cinema, an underground car museum and a disguised helipad in the grounds.
READ MORE: Beyonce visits Cotswolds in helicopter to house hunt with Jay-Z
Locals say the estate, which has been in private hands for generations, has rarely been seen beyond its high Cotswold stone walls and iron gates.
Reaction in Upper Fibbingdon-on-the-Green, a chocolate-box hamlet just a short drive from Oxford, has been mixed as word of the sale has spread.
Inoa Lye, a retired teacher who has lived in the village for 40 years, was left delighted at the thought of a Hollywood star moving in.
She said: “It’ll put us on the map, won’t it?
“If he wants to pop down to the pub quiz or help judge the village fete cake competition, he’ll be very welcome.”
READ MORE: Ryan Reynolds in the Cotswolds as Blake Lively meets Prue Leith
Mr DiCaprio will follow in the star-studded footsteps of several celebrities who live in the Cotswolds, including Jeremy Clarkson, Kate Moss, Ellen DeGeneres, and the Beckhams.
Former University professor Telung Porkis, who now lives in Upper Fibbingdon, said: “We’ve already got weekenders, YouTubers and people with more Labradors than sense.
“Now we’re getting the Wolf of Broad Street and his entourage? Pull the other one.”
Farmer Nott Reel said: “As long as he sticks to the footpaths and doesn’t try to land a helicopter in my sheep field, we’ll get along just fine.
READ MORE: Princess Beatrice’s husband gives £3m Cotswolds home life insight
“If he fancies sponsoring the village football team while he’s here, even better.”
Local author B.S. Tale added: “We moved here for the tranquillity, not for red carpets and camera crews. I’m sure he’s a nice chap, but I don’t want paparazzi hiding in my hedgerow.”
Mr DiCaprio is expected to take up residence later this year, once discreet security upgrades and interior work are completed at the 14th century castle.
The shocking Oxfordshire news comes after it was announced that Manchester City footballer Erling Haaland has signed for Oxford United in a surprise loan move.
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