Story perspectives

Social Media Harms 15-Year-Old Girls' Happiness, Report Reveals

3/19/2026

Summary

Story summary

The World Happiness Report finds social media use harms youth well-being, especially for 15-year-old girls.
Gallup and the University of Oxford data show that 15-year-old girls using social media over five hours report lower life satisfaction.
Those using less than one hour daily report higher well-being.
The report notes declines in life satisfaction among under-25s in the U.S., Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, with Finland highest and Afghanistan lowest.

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Story summary

The World Happiness Report finds social media use harms youth well-being, especially for 15-year-old girls.
Gallup and the University of Oxford data show that 15-year-old girls using social media over five hours report lower life satisfaction.
Those using less than one hour daily report higher well-being.
The report notes declines in life satisfaction among under-25s in the U.S., Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, with Finland highest and Afghanistan lowest.