Social media use can undermine happiness

There is mounting evidence that social media is undermining our happiness. Here's what we know and what we can do about it.

The youth of Western Europe and North America are less happy than they were two decades ago. The World Happiness Report identifies dramatic declines among under 25s in the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand in particular. The Report examines the evidence that social media is a major contributor.

Multiple studies evidence negative impacts on user’s mental health. One found the odds of depression increased by 13% for every additional hour per day of use. Given that the average adolescent spends roughly five hours a day on social media in the US, typical usage brings a 65% increase in the risk of depression. Importantly, the evidence is that girls are more negatively impacted than boys.

Those who use social media for less than one hour per day report the highest levels of well-being - even higher than those who do not use it at all. Abstinence is not the ideal solution in a social-networked world.

However, the negative impacts depend on the type of platform used. Apps designed to facilitate social connections, such as messaging, show a positive association with happiness. It is the algorithmically curated content platforms that show a negative association.

The root cause is that heavy usage undermines the foundations of our happiness. Human wellbeing is built on good relationships with others. Online interactions do not substitute for in-person social contact. Digital relationships are not strong or durable ties. And social media encourages a shift from quality to quantity in social connection. This, along with the extreme nature of the content that the algorithms serve up, undermines user’s trust in others.

So what do I think we should do about it?

A ban on under 16s establishing accounts on algorithmic platforms will allow young children to develop as happier young people. Age verification and strong enforcement will be essential.

Last year’s ban of smartphones in primary schools in Ireland was wise. A similar ban for post-primary schools, until at least transition year, would further enhance student wellbeing.

We need to demand more from the platform owners. Algorithms should be forcibly switched off for minors so posts are displayed strictly chronologically. There should be limits on push notifications, and on the autoplay and infinite scroll that keeps users glued to their screens. And let’s ask them to publish risk assessments and audits of how their platforms engage minors.

Parents can ban devices from bedrooms and mealtimes. And in-built parental controls allow us to fix time limits on our children’s devices – both when they can be used and for how long.

We need to kick children out of the house from time to time too. And then make our homes a welcoming space for their friend groups in return. It’s not all about the kids either – reflect on your own conduct and what you can do to model healthy behaviour.

It was fifty years after scientific studies first identified cigarette smoking as causing cancer before we banned cigarette sales to minors. I believe we have reached an evidential tipping point on the harm of social media. How long more are we going to wait? Our future happiness rests in the balance.

Read my Irish Independent article on this topic here.