Social media making young people less happy, report finds

A new report concludes that heavy social media use has contributed to a decline in wellbeing among young people in Western countries. The research identifies social media consumption as a factor in what the report describes as a "worrying decline" in mental health and happiness among this demographic. The finding adds to growing concern among public health officials, parents, and researchers about the psychological effects of platforms designed to maximize user engagement. Young people in developed nations have reported increased rates of anxiety, depression, and loneliness concurrent with rising social media adoption over the past decade. The report's conclusions may inform policy discussions around regulation of social platforms and their design practices.