FORUM: “Well-being in the digital age.” International Day of Happiness 2026. Did you ever wonder what makes a society happy? Is a happy society full of citizens who focus on their own happiness, people whose happiness then spills-over to others around them? Or, maybe, a happy society is composed of citizens who are sensitive to people around them, thereby making other people happy. Be among the first to read this year’s insights, centered around the theme of happiness for the young, the old, and everyone in between. The interest in happiness is, of course, global. In North America and Western Europe, young people are much less happy than 15 years ago. Over the same period, social media use has greatly increased. Many people blame social media for this fall in happiness, but does this hypothesis stand the test of rigorous scientific analysis? Social media use in the Middle East and North Africa is among the highest in the world, although considerable differences appear among countries. Heavy use is more common than in other regions: between 20% and 40% of users reported more than five hours of use in 2023–2024. Social media use is heavier among certain social groups. Gen Z, men, single individuals, less religious and more affluent respondents, as well as those with higher education, are much more likely to be heavy users. On average, heavy social media use (more than five hours per day) is associated with lower wellbeing. Heavy users are significantly more likely to report higher stress and depressive symptoms, and believe they are worse off than their parents, compared with non- or moderate users. The impact of heavy social media use on wellbeing depends on how it is used. Engaging with multiple platforms, relying on social media as a primary news source, and following influencers are associated with higher stress, increased depressive symptoms, and more negative comparisons with parents’ quality of life. The relationship between social media and happiness is contingent upon both platform design and the broader cultural and social context in which social media use takes place. So where do digital media products fall on this spectrum? Are they more like bicycles or guns?, Selecting high-quality evidence is only part of the challenge. “Good evidence” must be paired with the “good governance of evidence”.Among girls worldwide, non-users and light users of social media were more satisfied with their lives than heavy users. The key point is that many social media users wish the platform they use did not exist and would even be willing to pay to put it out of existence. Creating more equitable digital environments will require regulating platforms, as well as strengthening the social resources that help adolescents navigate a highly digitalized and unequal world. Younger adolescents appear more vulnerable to the negative wellbeing consequences of problematic digital engagement. Specifically, we ask: do internet and social media use affect subjective wellbeing not only directly, but also indirectly by altering levels of societal trust and social connection?. Most studies on the relationship between social media use and wellbeing have been carried out in Western, high-income settings, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Western Europe. Although valuable, these insights cannot be generalised. Follow the conversation with the hashtags: #HappinessDay, #20March, #InternationalDayofHappiness.
EVENTS: At United Nations HQ in New York, On Saturday; March 20th, a webinar will be held to find the ways to help countries to craft policies aimed at achieving happier societies. Register to participate!
In Washington D.C; On Friday; March 19th, Global launch of The report on the State of Happiness in the world and celebration of International Day of Happiness 2026.
THEMATIC DISCUSSIONS.
On Thursday, March 19th, from 08:30 a.m to 11:00 a.m. EDT in Washington D.C. The 2026 edition of the World Happiness Report will be launched. with the latest global happiness rankings powered by data examines the striking differences in how young people have fared over time across countries and regions. Examining the association between social media use and wellbeing across age groups and cultures, and drawing on interdisciplinary contributions from leading experts, the 2026 Edition seeks to clarify what societies should consider as they navigate a rapidly evolving digital age. In partnership with Gallup, Semafor will convene to explore the latest report insights and what the research reveals about generational change, loneliness and social connection. Leaders across research, policy, media, and technology will examine how institutions and communities might cultivate solutions that prioritize connection over distraction. This year marks the 14th anniversary of the World Happiness Report, during the occasion we will analyze the state of happiness in 2026 and will present how people evaluate their own lives in more than 150 countries around the world. Register to participate and Watch the launch ceremony!
EXHIBITS: The UN photographers capture people smiling, celebrating, playing, and laughing in this special collection for the International Day of Happiness.
PUBLICATION: Since it was first published, the World Happiness Report has been based on two key ideas: that happiness or life evaluation can be measured through opinion surveys, and that we can identify key determinants of well-being and thereby explain the patterns of life evaluation across countries. This information, in turn, can help countries to craft policies aimed at achieving happier societies. To learn more Download the World Happiness Report 2026!
What makes people happy? and How do we measure happiness?
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