Sri Lanka, March 20 -- The World Happiness Report 2026 has flagged serious concerns about how social media is affecting young people's wellbeing around the world.

According to the report, happiness levels among youth in North America and Western Europe have dropped noticeably over the past 15 years, a period that also saw a sharp rise in social media use. While the link isn't simple, the findings suggest that heavy usage plays a significant role.

Data from 47 countries show that teenagers who spend more than seven hours a day on social media tend to report much lower life satisfaction compared to those who use it for less than an hour. The impact appears to be stronger among girls.

On the other hand, moderate or limited use is generall...