Impact of Internet and Social Media on Wellbeing

This chapter is part of the World Happiness Report 2026 and investigates the effects of internet and social media use on subjective wellbeing. It specifically examines whether these technologies influence wellbeing directly or indirectly by altering societal trust and social connections. Utilizing data from the European Social Survey covering 30 countries from 2016 to 2024, the chapter reveals a significant negative relationship between internet use and wellbeing, particularly among younger generations. The findings indicate that while older adults maintain stable trust and social connections, younger cohorts, especially Gen Z and Millennial women, experience declines in trust and social activity. The chapter also highlights that the impact of internet use varies across demographics, suggesting that increased social media saturation among peers can exacerbate negative effects on wellbeing. Additionally, the authors employ an instrumental variable approach to address potential reverse causality, aiming to clarify the relationship between internet use and subjective wellbeing. The chapter concludes with discussions on policy implications and future research directions.