Instagram and TikTok Worse for Mental Health Than WhatsApp, Global Study Reveals
The World Happiness Report has uncovered that excessive use of social media is driving unhappiness among young people worldwide, with algorithm-driven platforms like Instagram and TikTok proving particularly harmful compared to connection-focused apps such as WhatsApp and Facebook. This annual barometer of global happiness highlights a stark contrast in how different types of social media impact user wellbeing.
Algorithm-Driven Apps Linked to Lower Happiness
According to the report, led by the Wellbeing Research Centre at the University of Oxford, social media platforms that encourage passive, algorithm-driven scrolling are associated with lower happiness and mental health problems. A study across 17 Latin American countries found that frequent use of X, Instagram, and TikTok—which are heavily dictated by algorithms and influencer content—led to reduced life satisfaction. In contrast, apps like WhatsApp and Facebook, which prioritize social connection, were linked to higher happiness levels.
Another study in the Middle East and North Africa reinforced these findings, showing that visual, passive apps filled with influencer content were more problematic for mental health. "It suggests we need to put the social back into social media," said Prof Jan-Emmanuel De Neve, director of the Wellbeing Research Centre and an editor of the report. "We must nudge both platform providers and users to leverage these tools for genuine social purposes and connecting with real people."
Moderate Use Key to Wellbeing
The report emphasizes that the type and duration of social media use significantly affect user wellbeing. Research indicates that limited social media use of an hour or less per day leads to higher life satisfaction than no use at all, excluding those without internet access. "There's a bit of a Goldilocks proposition here—not too much, not too little. Positive moderate use seems to be optimal," De Neve explained. However, the average social media usage time in the data was around two-and-a-half hours, far exceeding this recommended limit.
Global Happiness Rankings and Youth Concerns
Overall happiness levels in the UK have dropped to their lowest since the report's inception in 2012, with the country ranking 29th globally, down from 23rd last year. For the second consecutive year, no English-speaking countries made the top 10 in the happiness rankings. Finland retained its position at the top for the ninth year in a row, while countries like Costa Rica, Kosovo, Slovenia, and the Czech Republic saw significant rises.
The impact of social media on youth happiness varies dramatically across regions, even in countries where these platforms are prevalent. "If you look at somewhere like Lithuania, youth wellbeing is much higher than, say, the US or the UK, and they obviously have access to all these social media platforms too," De Neve noted. "So you can't just pinpoint only social media; there's a hell of a lot more going on. American or British youth cite affordability, anxiety about future work, and job security as major concerns."
Policy Implications and Future Directions
These findings are particularly relevant in light of Australia's recent total ban on social media for under-16s, which includes platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X but excludes messaging apps such as WhatsApp. "This is really critical—it's the biggest test of a complete ban of social media for under-16s, and all other countries really should take note of the results and not jump the gun," De Neve emphasized.
The report, created in collaboration with analytics company Gallup and the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, calls for a reevaluation of social media design and usage to foster healthier digital environments. As global happiness trends shift, the focus must remain on promoting tools that enhance genuine human connection rather than passive consumption.
