Jamaine Punzalan

A person uses a phone by the beach in Bato, Catanduanes, Nov. 8, 2020. George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News/File

Article (news)

Typhoon Rolly

Deutsche Welle

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/177396402871720201108-rolly-aftermath-bato-catanduanes-GC5.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">A person uses a phone by the beach in Bato, Catanduanes, Nov. 8, 2020. George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News/File</span></span></span></div><p>Finland once again showed the world the path to happiness even as heavy social media usage eroded personal well-being among young people across the planet, the World Happiness Report 2026 said on Thursday.</p><p>The report, produced by the University of Oxford&#x27;s Wellbeing Research Centre in partnership with Gallup and the United Nations, found life satisfaction among under-25s in countries including the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand has fallen sharply over the past decade.</p><p>The study is based on surveys of around 100,000 people across 140 countries.</p><div><strong>Some young people prefer if no one used social media</strong></div><p>The report said that heavy social media use is linked to declining well-being among young people, particularly teenage girls in English-speaking and Western European countries.</p><p>The findings come as governments increasingly consider restrictions on social media use by minors.</p><p>Researchers said extensive social media use, especially more than seven hours per day, is associated with lower well-being, with algorithm-driven, image-focused platforms and influencer content cited as key factors.</p><p>The report said most US college students wish social media platforms did not exist.</p><p>&quot;They use them because others are using them, but they would prefer it if no one did,&quot; the report said.</p><p>However, those who used social media for less than an hour a day were more likely to report higher well-being than those who did not use social media at all.</p><div><strong>Finland tops happiness index</strong></div><p>World Happiness Report 2026 rankings:</p><p>Top 10:</p><ol><li>Finland</li><li>Iceland</li><li>Denmark</li><li>Costa Rica</li><li>Sweden</li><li>Norway</li><li>Netherlands</li><li>Israel</li><li>Luxembourg</li><li>Switzerland</li></ol><p>Notable entries:</p><ul><li>17. Germany</li><li>23. United States of America</li><li>65. China</li><li>97. Iran</li><li>104. Pakistan</li><li>106. Nigeria</li><li>116. India</li></ul><div><br/></div><p>The least happy countries in the world, according to the report:</p><ul><li>147.  Afghanistan</li><li>146. Sierra Leone</li><li>145. Malawi</li><li>144. Zimbabwe</li><li>143. Botswana</li></ul><div><br/></div><p>Finland ranked as the world&#x27;s happiest country for a ninth consecutive year, with Nordic nations dominating the top rankings.</p><p>The report attributed the Nordic dominance to wealth, equality, strong welfare systems and high life expectancy.</p><p>Costa Rica rose to fourth place, attributed to strong social and family ties.</p><p>Afghanistan remained the lowest-ranked country, along with Sierra Leone and Malawi.</p><div><em>Edited by: Dmytro Hubenko</em></div>

<p>The 2026 World Happiness Report found that life satisfaction among those under 25 in some English-speaking countries has fallen sharply over the past decade. Finland was once again the happiest country.</p>

The 2026 World Happiness Report found that life satisfaction among those under 25 in some English-speaking countries has fallen sharply over the past decade. Finland was once again the happiest country.

Social media makes people unhappy — World Happiness Report

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Social media makes people unhappy — World Happiness Report

Deutsche Welle,

Shakeel Sobhan with AP,

AFP,

Reuters

Published Mar 20, 2026 07:50 AM PHT

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